Jock Soto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jock Soto
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Soto in a Vogue magazine video in 2014
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| Born | 1965 (age 59–60) Gallup, New Mexico, U.S.
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| Occupation | Principal dancer for the New York City Ballet |
Jock Soto (born in 1965) is a famous American ballet dancer who used to perform on stage. Today, he teaches ballet to new dancers. He was a very important dancer for the New York City Ballet for many years.
Contents
Jock Soto's Dance Journey
Jock Soto danced in more than 40 different ballets! Over 35 of these dances were created especially for him. This means choreographers made new dance pieces with Jock in mind.
Starting His Ballet Career
When Jock was a student at the School of American Ballet (SAB), he danced a special part called Luke in a ballet called The Magic Flute. This dance was first made for the SAB students in 1981. Later, it moved to the New York City Ballet, and Jock kept his role as Luke.
He officially joined the New York City Ballet in 1981. His first big performance as Luke in The Magic Flute was in January of the next year. Jock quickly moved up in the ballet company. He became a soloist in 1984 and then a principal dancer in 1985. A principal dancer is one of the main and most important dancers in a ballet company.
Dancing in The Nutcracker
Jock Soto also appeared in the 1993 film version of The Nutcracker. He danced the role of a parent in this movie. The film was based on the New York City Ballet's own production, which was choreographed by the famous George Balanchine.
Farewell Performance
Jock Soto gave his final performance on Sunday, June 19, 2005. It was a special show that included dances by five different choreographers. Some of the ballets he performed were "Dance at the Gym" from Jerome Robbins' West Side Story Suite and Peter Martins' Barber Violin Concerto.
Life After Performing
Since 1996, Jock Soto has been a permanent teacher at the School of American Ballet. He teaches important classes like partnering and technique to students who are learning advanced ballet. Besides teaching dance, he has also explored a "culinary career," which means he enjoys cooking and working with food.
About Jock Soto
Jock Soto was born in Gallup, New Mexico, and grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. His parents have a rich background; they are from Puerto Rico and the Navajo nation.
Film and Books
Films Featuring Jock Soto
- The Nutcracker (1993): This is the film where Jock Soto played a parent.
- Water Flowing Together (2007): This is a documentary film about Jock Soto's life and career. It won awards and was shown on PBS in 2008.
Books by Jock Soto
- Every Step You Take (2011): This book was published by HarperCollins.
- Our Meals: This is a cookbook that Jock Soto wrote with Heather Watts.
