Prima Ballerina

When Julie Kent made her entrance as Juliet the other night, the applause for her was long and loud. And she seemed more girlish than ever, as she frolicked around the Nurse. Why was she retiring?

But retiring she was. Julie Kent is one of the outstanding ballerinas of our time. She was with the American Ballet Theatre for almost 30 years: 1986 to just the other night. She is a senior citizen, in ballet terms: age 45. Kent is, indeed, the longest-serving dancer in ABT history.