• Dimitri Kleioris in An American in Paris. Photo: Matthew Murphy.
    Dimitri Kleioris in An American in Paris. Photo: Matthew Murphy.
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Austalian Dimitri Kleioris tells Susan Reiter about the path that led him to the lead role on Broadway.

Dimitri Kleioris in New York's Central Park. Photo: Jade Young.
Dimitri Kleioris in New York's Central Park. Photo: Jade Young.

It wasn't exactly typecasting when the role of Jerry Mulligan, the central figure in the acclaimed Broadway musical An American in Paris, went to Dimitri Kleioris – an Australian. But for the final months of the show's 18-month run (it closed in early October), Kleioris played the demanding role with robust charm, acting and singing as well as dancing extensively, as he romanced the winsome young French woman played by Leanne Cope – a Royal Ballet dancer who had been with the show since its inception.

Inspired by the celebrated 1951 film – in which Gene Kelly created one of his most iconic roles – the musical was directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, and features intricate choreography requiring top-level ballet talent. (A London production will open in March.)

Making his Broadway debut in this leading-man role is the latest twist in Kleioris's nearly three years in New York, which demonstrates that expectations are often upended, while the unexpected can materialise out of the blue.

At an interview in a midtown Manhattan café, a few days after American in Paris had played its final performance, the young dancer is still taking stock of his unplanned move into musical theatre. “I don't think it’s hit me yet,” he says of the show, which had been his workplace since January, having played its final performance. I don't think my brain has comprehended what I've just done. It feels very surreal.” He is contemplating his next moves – both professionally and geographically.

Kleioris loved dancing from an early age – “It was the only thing I ever wanted to do, as a kid,” he recalls – and his interest never wavered. His focus was on tap and jazz dance. He didn't encounter ballet until he entered the McDonald College of Performing Arts in Sydney at age 14.

McDonald offered a ballet stream, and the young dancer decided he'd pursue that while continuing his jazz and tap, to become a better overall dancer. In his third year, his teacher, Nigel Burley, prepared a student production of Giselle, and tapped Kleioris (who at that point had never seen the ballet) to play Albrecht. That required him to focus exclusively and intensively on classical ballet for that year – not an appealing prospect.

But Kleioris soon experienced a radical shift. “Within three months, I fell in love with ballet. Towards the end of that year, a friend of mine was auditioning for the Australian Ballet School (ABS), and said I should come.”...

This is an extract from an article in the Dec/Jan issue of Dance Australia... out very soon! Buy Dance Australia at your favourite magazine retailer or subscribe here, or purchase an online copy via the Dance Australia app.

Top photo: Dimitri Kleioris in An American in Paris. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

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