Best man for the job

NZ-born Alexander Grant is in the director’s chair at Boston Ballet’s Grand Studio, where a performance of Ashton’s Fille is currently under production. The 77-year-old, widely regarded as “one of the great character dancers of his day,” spent most of his professional career at England’s Royal Ballet, where he partnered such legends as Margot Fonteyn. It was for Grant that Ashton originally created the role of Alain in Fille in 1960.