Edward Villella

Edward Villella (born October 1, 1936, Bayside), New York, is a ballet dancer and choreographer, frequently cited as America's most celebrated male dancer at the time.

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 1959, 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 George Balanchine's ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream (with music by Felix Mendelssohn), Tarantella, Rubies in the 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 won an Emmy Award in 1975 for his CBS television production of Harlequinade. He danced in two television versions of The Nutcracker (in different roles), in a ballet film version of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and in a 1966 TV production of Brigadoon, in which he played the tragic suitor Harry Beaton. During the 1960s 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 1973, Villella appeared as himself in an episode of The 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; his son, Roddy, also appeared. 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 Ballet Oklahoma (now Oklahoma City Ballet) from 1983—85. He has also been artistic advisor to New Jersey Ballet since 1972 and currently is a special artist at New Jersey School of Ballet. He founded the Miami City Ballet in 1986 and still serves as its artistic director.

In 1997, Villella was named a Kennedy Center Honors recipient, and was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton. He was also named the Dorothy F. Schmidt artist-in-residence at Florida Atlantic University in 2000. He was inducted into the National Museum of Dance C.V. Whitney Hall of Fame in 2009.

Personal life

Villella and his wife Linda Carbonetto, a former Olympic figure skater, have two daughters named Lauren and Crista. Villella also has a son, Roddy; his mother is Villella's first wife, former New York City Ballet dancer Janet Greschler.

External links

• Kennedy Center biography of Edward Villella
• Edward Villella at the Internet Movie Database
• Miami City Ballet website