16 Facts About Darci Kistler

1.

Darci Kistler was born on June 4,1964 and is an American ballerina.

2.

Darci Kistler is often said to be the last muse for choreographer George Balanchine.

3.

Darci Kistler's brothers excelled in amateur wrestling, and she followed them into water-skiing, basketball, football and horseback riding.

4.

At age 4, Darci Kistler received her first tutu and began ballet training that same year.

5.

Darci Kistler studied with Mary Lynn at Mary Lynn's Ballet Arts and later with Irina Kosmovska in Los Angeles.

6.

In early 1979, Darci Kistler was selected to study at New York City Ballet's School of American Ballet, where she met George Balanchine.

7.

Darci Kistler joined the New York City Ballet corps de ballet in 1980, and was featured in a Time article before the end of the year.

8.

Darci Kistler was promoted to soloist in 1981 and principal dancer in 1982, the youngest ever at 17 years.

9.

Darci Kistler eventually wrote her own autobiography "Ballerina: My Story" as a children's book.

10.

Darci Kistler went through several surgeries, including for her back.

11.

In February 2009, Darci Kistler announced her retirement from New York City Ballet at the end of the 2010 season.

12.

Darci Kistler married New York City Ballet's balletmaster-in-chief Peter Martins in 1991.

13.

In July 1992, Martins was arrested and held for five hours after Darci Kistler phoned the police for help.

14.

Darci Kistler filed an affidavit accusing him of assaulting her, pushing and slapping her, and cutting and bruising her arms and legs, leading to a charge of third-degree assault.

15.

Darci Kistler dropped the charges a few days later, saying she preferred to resolve the matter without the court's intervention.

16.

Darci Kistler and Martins have one daughter, Talicia Tove Martins, born June 13,1996.