A press release (congratulations to Kent and Barbee!):

PRINCIPAL DANCER JULIE KENT TO TAKE MATERNITY LEAVE

American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Julie Kent will take maternity leave effective immediately, it was announced today by Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie. Miss Kent and her husband, ABT Associate Artistic Director Victor Barbee, expect their second child in June of this year.

Kent is expected to return to the Company for the 2009-2010 season.

All the best to the expectant parents!

Well Julie's leave may open up some interesting opportunities for some of ABT's up and coming dancers. Wait and see, I guess.

Congratulations Kent and Barbee!

Not to be insensitive, but this news is sure to shakeup the Met casting (as we've seen it do the Kennedy Center casting).

One ballerina's maternity leave is another ballerina's potential opportunity to shine in a new role, potentially.

I'm very happy to hear about Kent's maternity, but I certainly regret not getting to see her Giselle in ABT's upcoming Miami run...

Wonderful news for Julie and Victor. I'll miss Julie, she's one of my favs, I wonder if we'll see her on our side of the proscenium?

Who will fill her shoes?

As per "aura", I can only think of Part.

I would humbly suggest that Stella Abrera pick up some of Julie's roles. In addition, still hoping to hear about a promotion for Abrera!

Congratulations to Julie and Victor! I will miss her this spring season..

Hopefully it is an opportunity to see Veronica Part on stage more often.

Okay, for the Spring season Julie's roles were:

Mozartiana: this could be a lovely Stella Abrera role if she is fully recovered from her serious injury last season. If not - maybe Diana Vishneva could add it to her repertoire?
Swan Lake: suggested replacement - Veronica Part who has already danced it with David Hallberg
Giselle: I think the Gomes/Ananiashvili pairing could be exciting in "Giselle" and it would be nice to have Marcelo's Albrecht with someone other than Paloma Herrera. Plus one more chance to say goodbye to Nina.
Romeo and Juliet: Sarah Lane perhaps? Would look genuinely fourteen or fifteen and might pair charmingly with Corey Stearns as her Romeo. Maybe Osipova has a suppressed longing to do the MacMillan Juliet?

according to the Irina and Max official site, Irina Dvrovenko will be replacing Julie Kent for Juliet with Roberto Bolle.

Also according to the official site for Max and Irina, Part/Beloserkovsky will do the May 23 matinée for Mozartiana, which was originally Kent/TBA

Updating...baby Josephine arrived on June 15th. Congratulations Julie and Victor

awwww congratulations to them

A nice, early Father's Day gift for Victor! Congrats to him and Julie!

Aww, that's great! Congratulations to them!! Now they have a boy and girl!