10 Questions with Jared Angle, NYC Ballet Principal Dancer

New York City Ballet principal male dancer Jared Angle, one of the world’s most revered ballet performers, will be joining Dan’s Papers’ dancing event, “Dans’ing,” to benefit Dancing Dreams this Saturday, September 27 at Southampton Arts Center.

Angle—who has hosted a NYC Ballet event at Guild Hall in East Hampton the past two summers—is returning to the Hamptons in support of Dancing Dreams, a non-profit program that gives children with physical challenges a chance to dance. “I love the East End,” he says, recalling “beach time,” an amazing clambake and fabulous “farm stand lunches” during his visits. “There’s nothing better.”

Along with being on hand to shake hands and say hello at the Dans’ing dance party, Angle will introduce various dance classes—Latin, hip hop and swing—and even teach his own basic ballet class.

“I’m going to lead a ballet lesson of some sort,” the dancer says, noting that guests need not be intimidated, as his class will be “for civilians” and not at the professional level of skill for which he is famous.

“I wish there would be more opportunity to do things for charity,” Angle says, explaining that his rigorous training and rehearsal schedule makes it difficult to appear at more benefits like Dans’ing, let alone teach a class for amateurs. He points out that dance is a joyful, freeing activity. “There’s joy in the movement,” Angle says. “It’s pretty infectious.”

This is Angle’s first time working with Dancing Dreams, but his ballet colleagues told him they had “the greatest time” working with the physically challenged children in the program. “The kids were amazing,” he recalls them saying. “It’s an honor to do something like this.”

Scroll down for ticket info and event details.

10 Questions with Jared Angle, NYC Ballet Principal Dancer

1. Favorite book?
Moby Dick [by Herman Melville] is my 2014 summer favorite.

2. The last thing that took your breath away?
I watched Wendy Whelan [who is retiring as principal dancer with the New York City Ballet next month] in a magnificent performance.

3. The last thing that made you cry?
I never cry.

4. It’s the eve of your execution… What would be your last meal?
Oysters, eggplant Parmesan my friend makes in Italy…and pizza.

5. Something worth fighting for?
Freedom.

6. Something worth giving up?
Superiority.

7. Spend an afternoon with anyone—alive or dead—who would it be?
George Balanchine.

8. An interesting object in your home or studio?
Found painting.

9. Last film you watched?
Boyhood.

10. What is your favorite piece of music?
At the moment, Schubert.

Dans’ing, the Dancing Dreams benefit featuring Jared Angle, is this Saturday, September 27 at Southampton Arts Center (25 Jobs Lane) in Southampton Village. Dance lessons will be offered in various styles for $25 between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m., followed by a dance party there with Jim Turner and his band at 7 p.m. Admission to the dance is $25.

Reservations are required for all classes and the evening dance event. To secure a spot, email dansevents@danspapers.com.