Edward Villella | |
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 Villella in 1997 | |
| Born | (1936-10-01)October 1, 1936 (age 88) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Ballet dancer,Choreographer |
Edward Villella (born October 1, 1936) is an Americanballet dancer andchoreographer. He is frequently cited as America's most celebrated male dancer of ballet at the time.[1][2] He has won numerous awards, including theDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special, theKennedy Center Honors, and theNational Medal of Arts.
Villella enrolled in theSchool of American Ballet at age ten, and then theHigh School of Performing Arts,[3] but then interrupted his dance studies to complete his college education. He attended theNew York Maritime Academy, where he lettered inbaseball and was a championshipboxer. He graduated with a marine science degree in 1957, and rejoined the School of American Ballet.
Villella became a member of theNew York City Ballet in 1957, rising to soloist in 1958 and principal dancer in 1960, last dancing there in 1979.[4]: 179 Among his most noteworthy[5] performances were Oberon inGeorge Balanchine's balletA Midsummer Night's Dream (with music byFelix Mendelssohn),Tarantella,Rubies in the Balanchine balletJewels, andProdigal Son.
Villella was the first American male dancer to appear with theRoyal Danish Ballet, and the only American ever asked to dance an encore at theBolshoi Theatre inMoscow. He danced at the inaugural for PresidentJohn F. Kennedy, and performed for PresidentsJohnson,Nixon, andFord. He won anEmmy Award in 1975 for hisCBS television production of Balanchine'sHarlequinade. He danced in two television versions ofThe Nutcracker (in different roles), in a ballet film version ofA Midsummer Night's Dream, and in a 1966 TV production ofBrigadoon, in which he played the tragic suitor Harry Beaton. During the 1960s he and his dancing partnerPatricia McBride, who starred together in a 1965television version ofThe Nutcracker, appeared often onThe Ed Sullivan Show. In 1973, Villella appeared as himself in an episode ofThe Odd Couple titled "Last Tango in Newark" during which he said (much to Felix's dismay) that he always wanted to be a professional football player and that he took up ballet to meet girls; his son, Roddy, also appeared.[6] In 1983, Villella guest-starred on thesoap operaGuiding Light.
| External videos | |
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 Edward Villella and Patricia McBride on USA DANCE: New York City Ballet (1965) performing George Balanchine's "Tarantella"on archive.org |
After retirement as a performer, Villella was the artistic coordinator of theEglevsky Ballet from 1979 to 1984 and the director of Ballet Oklahoma (nowOklahoma City Ballet) from 1983 to 1985. He has also been artistic advisor toNew Jersey Ballet since 1972 and currently is a special artist at New Jersey School of Ballet.[7] He was named founding artistic director ofMiami City Ballet in 1985[8] and served in that role until 2012.[9]
Villella and his wifeLinda Carbonetto, a former Olympic figure skater, married in April 1981. They have two daughters named Lauren and Crista. Villella also has a son, Roddy, with his first wife, formerNew York City Ballet dancer Janet Greschler, to whom he was married from 1962 to November 1980.[14]
National Medal of Arts recipient Edward Villella presents the Golden Plate Award to Justin Peck, a recipient of the Tony Award for Choreography, at the Banquet of the Golden Plate gala held at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City.
