Backstage with JARED MATTHEWS
In the first week of the City Center fall season in New York, American Ballet Theatre presented an array of works featuring many young dancers in the company. Jared Matthews, at the age of 22 in clearly making a mark for himself. Gia Kourlas in The New York Times said that Matthews "...stood out for his attention to detail and rich aplomb."
Jared came to ballet by way of participation in elementary school sports playing baseball, football and basketball at ages nine and 10. Actually, it was his gym teacher who first got him involved in dance suggesting that he might like to try tap. An avid fan of movie musicals, Jared so admired Gene Kelly, he decided to give it a whirl. After three years in tap class, he was told that if he wanted to be a dancer, he should also study ballet. Seeing Baryshnikov in The Turning Point Jared decided to pursue ballet training. He attended classes at a local ballet school where he studied with Gilbert Rome and Victoria Vittum and although he was offered a place at the Houston Ballet Academy, the school connected with The Houston Ballet Company, his training was progressing so well that he decided to remain where he was. Venturing out Matthews attended the Joffrey San Antonio summer program at age 13, North Carolina School of the Arts at 14 and School of American Ballet at 15. After seeing the PBS airing of American Ballet Theatre's Corsaire he enrolled in the ABT Summer Intensive at age 16 returning the following year, there he remained joining the ABT Studio Company and, a year later, the main company.
Navigating the demands of a professional career at such a young age was not difficult for Jared. He had his priorities, among them to finish high school, which he did on correspondence. It is always a struggle financially when starting out but he was fortunate to be offered housing and coaching. Jared credits choreographer Daniel Baudendistel for recognizing his talent as a partner. Daniel arranged a guest appearance for him and at age 16, he ventured, on his own, to Japan. He also brought him to the attention of David Howard, who has been Jared's teacher and coach on his rise through the ranks of the corps de ballet. Though they are in no way involved in the profession, Jared's parents always gave their full support to his choice of a career in dance.
Matthews chance at a solo role first came in Symphonic Variations, when he replaced an injured dancer, with only one stage rehearsal. He finds all new roles challenging in different ways...some are easier than others. In his five years with ABT, Jared's repertoire has grown. In addition to appearing in most of the company's full length productions, he recently performed Benvolio in Kenneth MacMillan's production of Romeo and Juliet, Benno in Swan Lake, Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle, the Head Wrangler in Rodeo, and leading roles in Cinderella, Jeu de Cartes, Sachs Tanze, Petite Mort, Sinfonietta, Workwithinwork, Gong, Clear, In The Upper Room and Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes. As a guest artist he has appeared with the Rochester City Ballet, Civic Ballet of Chicago and the Houston Repertoire Ballet. His repertoire includes Siegfried in Swan Lake, the Cavalier in Nutcracker and Hilarion in Giselle. He danced the Don Quixote Pas de Deux on a gala program at the West Virginia Dance Festival.
His busy schedule gives Jared little time outside of the studio but when he does get some down time, he enjoys reading and films. In addition to daily ballet class, he does weights and cross training in the gym. At present his wants to become the best dancer he can be and for the future his goals would be to produce a touring group of dancers and someday teach and direct. His advice to young dancers is to never be satisfied...keep working and don't get bored. ... Keep your eye on Jared Matthews...