Edward Villella

Edward Villella ( born October 1, 1936 in Bayside, New York City ) is an American ballet dancer and choreographer.

Life

Edward Villella began his dance training at age 10 at the School of American Ballet. He interrupted his studies, however, to do his doctorate at the New York Maritime Academy in specialist marine science.

1957 Villella became a member of the New York City Ballet and in 1957 rose to soloist. In 1960 he was appointed Principal Dancer. His most notable roles were Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Prodigal Son in Prodigal Son, and the solo parts in Tarantella and Jewels.

Villella was the first American male dancer, who appeared with the Royal Danish Ballet and the only American dancer who was ever asked at the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre to an encore. He danced at the inauguration ceremony of President John F. Kennedy and a number of other U.S. presidents. In 1975, he won an Emmy for the television production of the ballet Harlequinade. He had more television appearances in The Nutcracker, the ballet movie A Midsummer Night 's Dream and 1966 in Brigadoon (as Harry Beaton ). He also made ​​appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and guest roles in soap operas Odd Couple and The Guiding Light.

After retiring as an active dancer Villella was the artistic director of Eglevsky Ballet 1979-1984 and 1983-1985 Director of the Oklahoma Ballet. In 1986, he founded the Miami City Ballet, whose artistic director and chief executive he to this day. The Florida Atlantic University gave him a residence scholarship.

Villella is married to the former figure skater Linda and lives with her in Miami Beach. Linda Villella is the founder and director of the Miami City Ballet School. Together they have a son, Roddy, and two daughters, Lauren and Crista - Francesca. Crista Villella 's deputy ballet mistress of the Miami City Ballet.

In 1997, Villella carrier of Kennedy Prize and the National Medal of Arts.