NYT Reporter Joins ABT’s ‘Swan Lake’ as Supernumerary
A New York Times reporter recounts the experience of performing as a supernumerary in American Ballet Theatre’s production of ‘Swan Lake’ at the Metropolitan Opera House. The article describes the sensory details of being onstage—nerves, heavy lipstick, sweat-and-velvet costumes—and the overwhelming view of the Met audience. The piece was published on July 20, 2026.
Key facts
- The reporter served as a supernumerary for ABT’s ‘Swan Lake’.
- The performance took place at the Metropolitan Opera House.
- The article was published in The New York Times on July 20, 2026.
- The reporter noted the dry-mouth feel from nerves and lipstick.
- The costumes had a sweat-and-velvet musk.
- The Met audience was described as faceless and staggeringly vast.
Entities
Institutions
- American Ballet Theatre
- The New York Times
- Metropolitan Opera House
Locations
- New York City
- United States