Edward Villella
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Edward Villella (born October 1, 1936, Bayside, New York) is an American ballet dancer and choreographer, frequently cited as America's most celebrated male dancer.
Villella enrolled in the School of American Ballet at age ten, but then interrupted his studies to complete his college education. He attended the New York Maritime Academy, where he lettered in baseball and was a championship boxer. He graduated with a marine science degree in 1955, and rejoined the School of American Ballet.
Villella became a member of the New York City Ballet in 1957, rising to Soloist in 1958 and Principal Dancer in 1960. Among his most noteworthy performances were Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, "Tarantella", "Rubies" in the George Balanchine ballet "Jewels", and "Prodigal Son."
Villella was the first American male dancer to appear with the Royal Danish Ballet, and the only American ever asked to dance an encore at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. He danced at the inaugural for President John F. Kennedy, and performed for Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Ford. He produced and directed the PBS series "Dance in America", and in 1975 won an Emmy Award for his CBS television production of "Harlequinade". He danced in television versions of The Nutcracker and A Midsummer Night's Dream, and in a 1966 TV production of Brigadoon. During the 1960's he and his dancing partner Patricia McBride, who starred together in a 1965 television version of The Nutcracker, appeared often on the Ed Sullivan Show. In 1983, Villella guest-starred on the soap opera Guiding Light.
After retirement as a performer, Villella was the artistic coordinator of the Eglevsky Ballet from 1979-84, and the director of the Oklahoma Ballet from 1983-85. He founded the Miami City Ballet in 1986 and still serves as its artistic director and chief executive officer. He is also currently artist-in-residence at Florida Atlantic University.
Villella and his wife Linda, a former Olympic figure skater, have three children: a son named Roddy and two daughters named Lauren and Crista.
In 1997, Villella was named a Kennedy Center Honors recipient, and was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton.
