Don Quixote Basilio's Act 3 Variation - Life Chance Gala in Columbia, SC. My home town!

Merry Widow - don't know how long it will be on YouTube, so watch now!!!

Joseph Phillips’s Reviews

“NY Post”
‘WIDOW’ IS AT ITS PEAK
By: Clive Barnes - July 2, 2008
For sheer virtuosity, you have Hynd's clever construction of an anonymous Balkan folk dance ending in a blaze of pirouettes led by a dazzling Joseph Phillips.
www.nypost.com

“NY Post”
AGE-OLD FANFARE FOR YOUNG TALENT
By: CLIVE BARNES - June 13, 2008
Also outstanding… Misty Copeland with Joseph Phillips (new to ABT this season and clearly a powerhouse acquisition) as the Gypsy Couple encamped in the second act.
www.nypost.com

“The Sun”
A Ballerina's Holiday
By: Joel Lobenthal - July 3, 2008
Jose Manuel Carreño was fine as the amorously adventurous but not overly bright Count. But the major male pyrotechnical display goes to Joseph Phillips, leading the Pontevedrian braves in a quasi-nationalistic dance that is more classical showpiece than anything else. They put it over neatly.
www.nysun.com

Ballet Magazine
ABT’s Spring Gala
By: Eric Taub - May, 19 2008
First up was a glimpse of what might be the company's future, in the presence of Joseph Phillips, leading Craig Salstein and Jared Matthews in the Pontevedrian dances from Ronald Hynd's The Merry Widow… Phillips, a flashy virtuoso who's migrated from San Francisco Ballet to Miami City Ballet to ABT, delivered flashy trick after flashy trick big half-turning leaps into splits, and endless turns, kicks and pirouettes, with Matthews and Salstein following suit, though at a respectful distance. It's not usual for an artistic director to put a member of the corps ahead of two soloists, as Kevin McKenzie's done here. I can only assume he decided to show off the latest toy in his box of virtuoso male action figures. This casting's a vote of confidence in Phillips' future, yet also a nod to his past and future…
www.ballet.co.uk

Dance View Times
Coming Attractions "ABT Gala"
By: Mary Cargill - May 19, 2008
The new soloist, Joseph Phillips, led the ensemble, and in what must have been a daunting assignment for a newcomer, danced fearlessly and almost flawlessly.  He is comparatively short, and of the bouncing ball variety, with all sorts of trick jumps, and an infectious joy that got things off to a fine start. 
www.danceviewtimes.com

“The Sun”
Putting on the Glitz - Opening Night Gala
By: Joel Lobenthal - May 21, 2008
One of the last things that ABT needs to cultivate right now is more short male whippersnappers, but Joseph Phillips showed himself eminently worthy of catapulting into this slot in some Ruritanian-style carousing.
www.nysun.com

Dance View Times
Don’t cry for me, Pontevedro
By: Leigh Witchel - June 30, 2008
Joseph Phillips, a new soloist, was a baby-faced firecracker of a Lead Pontevedrian in Act II.  He’s quite a trickster doing multiple tours in rapid succession; it was great fun to watch his Gypsy pants billowing as he revolved.
www.danceviewtimes.com

Dance Reviewer
Doomed Love and Jaded Floozies
By: Hilary Ostlers - May 22, 2008
Pontevedrian dancers led by Joseph Phillips, whose verve and elevation made him a stand-out. …he is obviously destined for promotion.

“The Star-Ledger”
Irresistible cast makes 'Merry' at American Ballet Theatre
By: Robert Johnson - July 01, 2008
As the leader of the male folk ensemble wearing turbans and baggy pants, Joseph Phillips displays astonishing bravura.
www.nj.com/starledger/

“New York Times”
Trickle-Down Economics as Savior? No, Marry-Up
By: Gia Kourlas - July 2, 2008
Mr. Barbee gives his imbecilic character a finely nuanced touch of innocence. Twitching his belly during a peppery pseudo-Pontevedrian folk dance, led by a beaming Joseph Phillips, he is also extremely funny. And throughout this madcap drama Ms. Kent never seems to forget that Hanna was once nothing more than a pretty peasant.
www.nytimes.com

Dance Reviewer
ABT's “The Merry Widow"
By: Rachel Straus - July 7, 2008
Also miraculous was Joseph Phillips’s Act II folk dance solo. Phillips’s ability to bounce up from every jump in vertical splendor was awesome.
www.ballet.co.ku

“The Sun”
Multiple Pas de Deux Add Up to a Long Evening: San Francisco Ballet
By: Joel Lobenthal - July 27, 2006
Joseph Phillips plunged head first into his debut in the "Swan Lake" pas de trois, and he proved both intrepid and highly skilled.
www.nysun.com

My Continuing Adventure…
1/1/08

I have never written a blog before, but so much has gone on in a short period of time. I guess it is my way of keeping track of me.

In the beginning of 2007, I made the decision to leave San Francisco for Miami. I had been happy in San Francisco Ballet but looked forward to a new challenge and new opportunities. I thought that I might always wonder “what if” if I did not make the move, so in June I relocated to Miami Beach and joined Miami City Ballet.

Around the time of my move, I danced in NYC with Ashley Bouder at the Youth American Grand Prix Gala. We danced Stars and Stripes.  I love dancing that piece. It is very special for me since it was the last piece that Melissa Hayden coached me in before I left the school. It was choreographed for her by Balanchine during her career with New York City Ballet. A little later on I danced in Cincinnati, Ohio at the International Stars of Ballet Gala with Ana Sophia Scheller. Ana and I also danced in September at North Carolina School of the Arts, a tribute to Dean Susan McCullough. Ethan Stiefel was named Dean of the School of Dance at that time.

Ana and I danced Tarantella at both events; one of the highlights of dancing with Miami City Ballet was to work with and to personally be coach by Edward Villella in this piece. Since Tarantella was choreographed for him by Balanchine, nothing could have been more special. Mr. Villella is such a magnetic and gifted man with a powerful persona.

There were many great things about my time in Miami. I will never regret the decision to move there. Each experience gives something good to take with you; however, by November I knew that we were not a good fit.

I had always waited for the perfect time to apply to American Ballet Theater. With the realization that I wanted to leave Miami, I decide no time like the present. After a trip to NYC I was given the opportunity to join ABT.

During December I danced in three different Nutcrackers in New Orleans, Spartanburg SC, and Los Angeles. I was also honored and flattered to receive LES ÉTOILES DE BALLET2000 award in Cannes, France.

January 7, 2008, I start with ABT. This is a dream come true for me and the chance of a lifetime… So my biggest adventure yet continues. 

Joseph