Ballet
In early 1979 Kistler was selected to study at New York City Ballet's School of American Ballet (SAB), where she met Balanchine. She joined the New York City Ballet (NYCB) corps de ballet in 1980, and was featured in a Time article before the end of the year.
Kistler was promoted to (NYCB) soloist in 1981 and principal dancer in 1982, the youngest ever at only 17 years. Signature rôles include Balanchine's Jewels (Diamonds), Agon, Prodigal Son and Symphony in C. She danced the rôle of the Sugarplum Fairy in City Ballet's 1993 film version of The Nutcracker.
Throughout her career, she's had the standard dance-related injuries, such as a broken ankle that sidelined her for three years. She went through several surgeries, including for her back.
During Balanchine's final illness, Peter Martins became the de facto leader of the NYCB, and was formally announced as its artistic director soon after Balanchine's passing.
Kistler married Martins in 1991. She joined the SAB's permanent faculty in 1994.
Read more about this topic: Darci Kistler
Famous quotes containing the word ballet:
“Anyone who has a child today should train him to be either a physicist or a ballet dancer. Then he’ll escape.”
—W.H. (Wystan Hugh)