After learning this, George Balanchine encouraged Robbins to accept the offer because "our boys can't fight," though the plan fell through.
"[5] In the original production, guest performers Nancy Ticotin and Natalie Toro were brought in to portray Anita and Rosalia respectively, both singing parts.
[6] Danish dancer Nikolaj Hübbe, who played Riff, was able to sing "Cool" himself despite his lack of vocal training.
[5] Robert La Fosse, a New York City Ballet dancer who played Tony on Jerome Robbins' Broadway, reprised his role here,[7] though the character's part in "Something's Coming" is performed by a singer in the orchestra pit,[7] as with three chorus girls in "America" and the female solo in "Somewhere".
[7] The offstage singers were Rob Lorey, Joan Barber, Stephanie Bast, Donna Lee Marshall and Karen Murphy, with Paul Gemignani conducting.
[6] A few years after West Side Story Suite premiered, the New York City Ballet chose to cast their own dancers instead of Broadway actors to perform the singing roles, though the format of having offstage vocalists continues.
[12] Chita Rivera, who created the role of Anita in the musical, served as the MC at a New York City Ballet gala in 2011 where West Side Story Suite was performed.