Five Questions
Sterling Hyltin is a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, which is in the midst of its annual summer residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
1 Who are you?
My name is Sterling Hyltin. I’m a principal dancer with New York City Ballet. 2 What are you most looking forward to performing at SPAC this year?
I am most looking forward to performing Balanchine’s La Sonnambula at SPAC this year. It’s an enthralling and poignant ballet that doesn’t appear in our repertory all that often. There is an element of mystery and heartbreak to it. I dance the role of the Sleepwalker and it is one of the most challenging roles I have. It’s actually a role that is much more difficult mentally than physically. I think that performing this ballet at an outdoor theater such as SPAC will only add to the drama of it, and I am really excited about it.
3 Where do you like to go in your free-time when you’re in Saratoga?
I really adore spending time in Saratoga Springs every summer. I really look forward to walking through town, and I especially love eating at Mexican Connection. I have to eat there several times during the two weeks NYCB is in town. I also like to treat myself to a nice day at the Roosevelt Baths. It’s a must.
4 When did you know you wanted to be a dancer?
Performing at SPAC is a special place for me because it was here that I first realized that I wanted to be a dancer, and that I wanted to try my best to make it into New York City Ballet. I was attending the School of American Ballet’s summer intensive, and we took a trip up to Saratoga to watch a show. I was mesmerized. Before that day, I knew I liked to dance but didn’t really see it being a part of my life after I went to college. Boy, was I wrong.