See How Dan Fink Transformed the Dancers' Lounge at the American Ballet Theatre
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For the dancers at New York’s American Ballet Theatre (ABT), the typical day is long and grueling. A morning of classor physical therapy gives way to hours of rehearsal, which can run into the night. Breaks are brief—usually just five minutes—and meals eaten on the go. What downtime the dancers have is spent in their lounge, until recently a forlorn space outfittedwith shabby futons and fluorescent lighting. “It was reflective of the ABT mentality, ‘Put every dollar on the stage,’ ” explains executive director Kara Medoff Barnett. This past spring, however, AD stepped in to help, spearheading a dramatic redesign by Dan Fink.
“It was hard to believe this was the only place for the world’s best dancers to put their feet up,” recalls Fink of the space’s original condition. “Still, there was something beautiful in the fact that for so many years that’s how it was and the dancers kept dancing. It’s a testament to their dedication and humility.”
What was initially conceived as a modest makeover evolved into a total transformation thanks to several generous ballet-loving patrons. An anonymous donor helped fund the construction work, which opened the space into one glorious column-free expanse. It’s now filled with furnishings courtesy of Century Furniture and Circa Lighting (all of it designed by Fink’s husband, Thomas O’Brien). Underfoot, meanwhile, is a custom carpet by Crosby Street Studios. “Everything was donated,” notes Fink, who also offered his time and expertise pro bono. “Everyone we approached wasso enthusiastic.”
The dancers themselves, he recalls, gave only one direction: “Make it white and clean.” That simple request would have been impossible to honor were it not for Sunbrella, which paid to have all the seating upholstered in yards upon yards of its durable fabric. (“You don’t have to worry about sweaty bodies,” says Barnett.) White paints by Farrow & Ball cover the walls, ceiling, and floor. And Hunter Douglas shades shield the space from the harsh late-day sun.
“As the project got going, we realized there was potential for the space to also become a venue to host fundraising events,” says Fink. So a window was added to the wall separating the lounge from the adjacent dance studio, bringing natural light into the space and affording visitors views of rehearsal. Performance footage, meanwhile, can be reviewed on an LG SIGNATURE flat-screen television. As a finishing touch, Fink delved into the ABT archives, collaging images across bulletin boards. “All the mementos are connected to the DNA of ABT,” says principal dancer Daniil Simkin, admiring photosof past stars like Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Among Simkin and his peers, the response has been overwhelming. “This is where we bond,” reflects principal Misty Copeland. “So it’s nice to feel that people care about where we are.” Adds principal Isabella Boylston, with a smile, “It’s a major upgrade.” For Barnett, the transformation is helping to usher in a new chapter for ABT. “This space says that a company that values elegance and artistry can have a home that inspires even greater elegance and artistry,” she says. “People are still pinching themselves.”