Dancer Robert Fairchild goes to the Tonys

Robert Fairchild and Tiler Peck in Santa Monica in 2012. LA Observed file photos/Iris Schneider.

Just following up here. Robert Fairchild, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, has been in LA Observed a couple of times before today. What's new is that he is starring on Broadway in "An American in Paris" and on Sunday night was up for a Tony award for best performance in a leading role in a musical.

Arts editor Judy Graeme talked to Fairchild twice for Native Intelligence in 2012. Once came when he was in Santa Monica with his fellow NYCB principal dancer, Tiler Peck, and the other time was for a story on the enduring cool of tap dancing, pegged to the success of "Anything Goes" at the Ahmanson Theater. Fairchild said at the time that he took up tap even before ballet. "It's great for a kid. You get to make noise with your feet," he said. "It's a real treat for me to tap with the company. Some people think it's not new age or cutting edge, but tap has evolved and it's such a huge tool to have."

The third time Fairchild was mentioned here, in 2013, was to note that he and Peck were engaged. Now married, they have become the hot ballet couple in New York, featured in the New York Times and Vogue. Peck danced at the Kennedy Center Honors and is featured in a new documentary, "Ballet 422." Fairchild's role on Broadway has caused them to spend a lot of time apart, the peg for more media coverage. In advance of the Tony's this weekend, Fairchild was featured in a Los Angeles Times story about dancers making the transition to Broadway.

Fairchild and Peck were shown on TV in their seats at the Tony's, but he didn't win. The Tony Award for lead actor in a musical went to Michael Cerveris, who is in "Fun Home." In his acceptance speech, he called Fairchild "Robbie Fitzgerald." (He is known as Robbie.)

OK, this is all enough reason to re-post this video of Sutton Foster and the company of "Anything Goes" rehearsing the big number. Just a rehearsal, in street clothes — and totally awesome.