Villella, Edward

Villella, Edward, 1936–, American ballet dancer, b. Long Island, N.Y. Villella studied at George Balanchine's School of American Ballet, joining the New York City Ballet in 1957. He soon became a principal dancer with a large repertoire of roles, most notably The Prodigal Son. Villella's dancing is remarkable for its tremendous vigor and dynamic style. He served as artistic coordinator of the Eglevsky Ballet (1979–84) and as director of the Oklahoma Ballet (1983–85), before founding the Miami City Ballet in 1986.

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Villella, Edward

Villella in The Prodigal Son.

(credit: Martha Swope)

(born Oct. 1, 1936, New York, N.Y., U.S.) U.S. ballet dancer, choreographer, and director. He trained at the School of American Ballet and joined the New York City Ballet in 1957, becoming a principal dancer in 1960. He danced leading roles in many of George Balanchine's ballets, notably The Prodigal Son (1960), displaying a powerful technique. After retiring from dancing in 1983, he became artistic director of Ballet Oklahoma (1983–86). In 1986 he founded the Miami City Ballet, where he continues as artistic director.

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Villella, Edward (1936–  ) ballet dancer, artistic director; born in Bayside, N.Y. Trained at the School of American Ballet and a welterweight boxing champion in college, he joined New York City Ballet in 1957. His athletic style helped dispel the myth that ballet was "unmasculine." After a hip injury he became artistic director of the Eglevsky Ballet Company in 1979 and founded the Miami City Ballet in 1985.