Sarah Lane

For the English actress, playwright and theatre manager, see Sarah Lane (theatre manager). For those of a similar name, see Sara Lane (disambiguation).

Sarah Lane
Lane receiving prize money at USA IBC in 2002
Born (1984-08-03) August 3, 1984 (age 40)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
EducationDraper Center for Dance
Boston Ballet
OccupationBallet dancer
Years active2003–present
Spouse
Luis Ribagorda
​
(m. 2007)​

Sarah Lane (born August 3, 1984) is an American ballet dancer who was a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre (ABT). She served as a "dance double" for Natalie Portman in the 2010 film Black Swan.

Early life

Lane was born in San Francisco, California. She started training for dance at Classical Ballet Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. Her family later moved to Rochester, New York where she continued her training at the Draper Center for Dance Education. At the age of 16 she attended the Boston Ballet's Summer Program on a full scholarship. At the North American Ballet Festival in 2000 and 2001, she won first place and received the Capezio Class Excellence Award.

In 2002, she received the highest medal in the Junior Division of the Jackson International Ballet Competition. During that time she also performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as a presidential scholar in the arts. Also in 2002, she won the bronze medal at the Youth America Grand Prix Competition. Lane is a YoungArts alumnus.[1]

Career

Lane joined American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in August 2003, became a member of the company's corps de ballet in April 2004. Lane was the June 2007 cover model for Dance Magazine.[2] She was appointed a Soloist in August 2007 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in September 2017.[3] Her promotion was announced following four successful role debuts - the titular role in Giselle, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, and a leading role in Souvenir d'un lieu cher - as part of ABT's 2017 season at the Metropolitan Opera House. She also originated the role of Princess Praline in Whipped Cream. In February 2020, Lane starred in the Richmond Ballet's "Swan Lake," partnered by Cory Stearns, a day after performing "Giselle" in DC. The scheduled Chinese National Ballet dancers had been unable to travel. [4] The New York Times called Lane's debut in Giselle “distinguished.”[5] Her term with ABT ended in 2020.[6][7] In 2023, she briefly became Director of the School of Ballet RI before resigning in December of 2023.[8][9]

Black Swan

Main article: Black Swan dance double controversy

Lane served as a "dance double" for Natalie Portman in the 2010 film Black Swan, a psychological thriller about ballet dancers in New York City.[10] In a March 3 blog entry for Dance Magazine, editor-in-chief Wendy Perron asked: "Do people really believe that it takes only one year to make a ballerina? We know that Natalie Portman studied ballet as a kid and had a year of intensive training for the film, but that doesn't add up to being a ballerina. However, it seems that many people believe that Portman did her own dancing in Black Swan."[11][12] This led to responses from Benjamin Millepied and Aronofsky, who both defended Portman, as well as a response from Lane on the subject.[13][14][15]

Personal life

In December 2007, Lane married Luis Ribagorda, a member of the ABT's corps de ballet.[16] They reside in Jersey City, New Jersey.[16][17]

Selected repertoire

Lane's repertory with the American Ballet Theatre includes:

Created roles

  • Chinese Dance - Alexei Ratmansky’s The Nutcracker
  • The Rose - The Seasons
  • The Fairy Miettes qui tombent (Breadcrumb) - Ratmansky’s The Sleeping Beauty
  • Miranda - The Tempest
  • Princess Praline - Whipped Cream
  • Dream within a Dream (deferred)
  • Private Light

Publications

References

  1. ^ "Our History | 40 years for artists". YoungArts. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  2. ^ "June 2007 - Dance Magazine". Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  3. ^ "Sarah Lane". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  4. ^ "RICHMOND BALLet's "SWAN LAKE": Happily Ever After". February 15, 2020.
  5. ^ Barone, Joshua (July 7, 2017). "American Ballet Theater Promotes 4 Dancers". The New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  6. ^ "Sarah Lane". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  7. ^ Amy Brandt (May 26, 2021). "Sarah Lane Opens Up About Her Career, Leaving ABT and Her Hopes for the Future". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  8. ^ Kyra Laubacher (July 27, 2023). "Former ABT Principal Sarah Lane on Becoming the New School Director at Ballet Rhode Island". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  9. ^ "Sarah Lane - School Director". Ballet RI. July 27, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  10. ^ Fuhrer, Margaret (April–May 2010). "Ballet All Over: Big Names in Black Swan". Pointe Magazine. Macfadden Performing Arts Media. Archived from the original on October 22, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  11. ^ Farley, Christopher (March 26, 2011). "Natalie Portman's 'Black Swan' Dance Double Says She Deserves More Credit". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  12. ^ Perron, Wendy (March 3, 2011). "Is There a Blackout on Black Swan's Dancing?". Dance Magazine. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
  13. ^ Lenihan, Jean (March 23, 2011). "Choreographer Benjamin Millepied on life after 'Black Swan'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  14. ^ Perron, Wendy (March 11, 2011). "Putting the Black Swan Blackout in Context". Dance Magazine. Retrieved March 26, 2011.
  15. ^ "Darren Aronofsky Defends Natalie Portman's "Black Swan" Dancing". Worstpreviews.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  16. ^ a b Speyer, Ariana (November 22, 2008). "Dance Off". Interview Magazine. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  17. ^ Martin, Antoinette (December 30, 2010). "Deciding Whether to Buy or Rent". The New York Times.