Bright stars illuminate the outlines of their constellations. Similarly, Gelsey Kirkland's brilliance has drawn attention to a whole new generation of American-born dancers. In their early 20s, they are poised at the turning point between skill and mastery. Though the rigors of training typically lend a certain sameness to ballet performers' lives, the new U.S. dancers show a surprising diversity. Six of the most promising:
Ann Marie De Angelo, 24. Soloist, Jeffrey Ballet. A fiery, flamboyant crowd pleaser and a prodigious leaper, California-bred De Angelo revels in bravura solos. Trained in San Francisco...