"But I went into the role without any apprehensions," he said during a rehearsal break. "I was ready to be a part of it and own the role personally. The thing for me is, I have to revert back to my teenage days to get into the role. Ferdinand is a boy who is discovering love for the first time.

"I was so eager to learn the part. And I wanted to be sure that if I was going to dance it, I had to do it right."

"Chris hasn't disappointed me," Cisneros-Legate said. "In fact, it was as if I couldn't give him the steps fast enough. He was so eager to learn the work."

Cisneros-Legate was originally in the second cast for "The Tempest," but there was an accident and the first ballerina couldn't perform.

"The next day Michael came to rehearsal and said, 'Who knows this?' and I raised my hand," said Cisneros-Legate. "That was how it happened."

"The Tempest" is ballet composed of different styles, said Cisneros-Legate. "It has classical ballet, romantic ballet, there's even a ragtime segment. And there are a lot of characters that do a lot of dancing.

"In addition to Ferdinand and Miranda, there are the roles of Antonio, Prospero, Trinculo, Alonso, Gonzalo, Ariel, Juno, Ceres, Iris — there is a lot of dancing, and the men are so strong," she said. "It's a ballet that keeps people's attention."

While Smuin and Tom Ruud are no longer with us, Cisneros-Legate feels a sense of responsibility to keep their vision alive.

"I remember when (Ballet West artistic director) Adam Sklute called me to ask if I could set 'The Tempest' on the company," she said. "At first I felt so overwhelmed. I hadn't thought of the work for a long time. But then when I found out who would be dancing, I felt a sort of pride and excitement to see how it would turn out."

"It was a pleasure working with Evelyn on this role," said Christopher Ruud. "I wanted to dance as myself and not me mimicking my father. The partnering is very complicated, and I have heard others say how good my father was as a dancing partner. And to work with Evelyn, who worked with my father, was a special experience for me."

If you go

What: "Tempest," Ballet West

Where: Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South

When: Friday through Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 15, 2 and 7:30 p.m.

How much: $17-$71

Phone: 355-2787, 888-451-2787

Web: www.arttix.org

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E-mail: scott@desnews.com