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 1959, and rejoined the School of American Ballet.

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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 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"; 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 the Oklahoma 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 and chief executive officer. 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.
  • Edward Villella ist ein US-amerikanischer Balletttänzer und Choreograf. Villella begann seine Tanzausbildung mit 10 Jahren an der School of American Ballet. Er unterbrach seine Studien jedoch, um an der New York Maritime Academy im Fach Marinewissenschaft zu promovieren. 1957 wurde Villella Mitglied des New York City Ballets und stieg 1957 zum Solisten auf. 1960 wurde er zum Principal Dancer ernannt. Seine beachtenswertesten Partien waren Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, der verlorene Sohn in Prodigal Son, sowie die Solopartien in Tarantella und Jewels. Villella war der erste männliche amerikanische Tänzer, der mit dem Königlichen Dänischen Ballett auftrat und der einzige amerikanische Tänzer, der jemals am Moskauer Bolschoi-Theater zu einem encore aufgefordert wurde. Er tanzte bei der Amtsantrittsfeier von Präsident John F. Kennedy und für eine Reihe weiterer US-Präsidenten. 1975 gewann er einen Emmy für die TV-Produktion des Balletts Harlequinade. Weitere Fernsehauftritte hatte er in The Nutcracker, im Ballettfilm A Midsummer Night's Dream und 1966 in Brigadoon (als Harry Beaton). Des Weiteren hatte er Auftritte in der Ed Sullivan Show und Gastrollen in den Seifenopern Männerwirtschaft und Springfield Story. Nach seinem Rücktritt als aktiver Tänzer war Villella 1979-1984 künstlerischer Leiter des Eglevsky Ballet und 1983-1985 Direktor des Oklahoma Ballet. 1986 gründete er das Miami City Ballet, dessen Künstlerischer Leiter und Hauptgeschäftsführer er bis heute ist. Die Florida Atlantic University ermöglichte ihm ein Residenzstipendium. Villella ist mit der ehemaligen Eiskunstläuferin Linda verheiratet und lebt mit ihr in Miami Beach. Linda Villella ist Gründerin und Direktorin der Miami City Ballet School. Zusammen haben sie einen Sohn, Roddy, und zwei Töchter, Lauren und Crista-Francesca. Crista Villella ist stellvertretende Ballettmeisterin des Miami City Ballet. 1997 wurde Villella Träger des Kennedy-Preises und der National Medal of Arts.
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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 1959, and rejoined the School of American Ballet.
  • Edward Villella ist ein US-amerikanischer Balletttänzer und Choreograf. Villella begann seine Tanzausbildung mit 10 Jahren an der School of American Ballet. Er unterbrach seine Studien jedoch, um an der New York Maritime Academy im Fach Marinewissenschaft zu promovieren. 1957 wurde Villella Mitglied des New York City Ballets und stieg 1957 zum Solisten auf. 1960 wurde er zum Principal Dancer ernannt.
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  • Edward Villella
  • Edward Villella
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