IN THE NEWS // Less than a year after being promoted to principal dancer, Unity Phelan took on a number of debut leads this past fall. She describes former Principal Dancer Heather Watts as an inspiration and a go-to mentor regarding many of the roles she’s learned, and considers Repertory Director and former Soloist Kathleen Tracey pivotal to her development. Phelan told the @nytimes in a recent feature that Tracey has been “instrumental in getting me to where I am now with my technique. She’s really worked with me on building up the confidence — that I can take up space here. I’m allowed to take up space.”⁠ ⁠ Regarding the Company’s return to the stage following the COVID-19 closures, “I was no longer afraid to be strong or afraid to put myself out there,” Phelan says. “This is who I am, and this is how I’m going to do this. Take it or leave it. But this is my version.”⁠ ⁠ Tap this post in our #linkinbio grid to read the feature.⁠ ⁠ Photo by Josefina Santos for the New York Times (@josefinasantos)⁠ ⁠ @unityphelan #unityphelan #ballet #dance #dancer #pointeshoes #nycb #nycballet #newyorkcityballet