1. Edward Villella was born on October 1,1936 and is an American ballet dancer and choreographer.
15 Facts About Edward Villella
1. 2.
Edward Villella is frequently cited as America's most celebrated male dancer of ballet at the time.
3.
Edward Villella has won numerous awards, including the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Special, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the National Medal of Arts.
4.
Edward Villella attended the New York Maritime Academy, where he lettered in baseball and was a championship boxer.
5.
Edward Villella graduated with a marine science degree in 1957, and rejoined the School of American Ballet.
6.
Edward Villella became a member of the New York City Ballet in 1957, rising to soloist in 1958 and principal dancer in 1960, last dancing there in 1979.
7.
Edward 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.
8.
Edward Villella danced at the inaugural for President John F Kennedy, and performed for Presidents Johnson, Nixon, and Ford.
9.
Edward Villella won an Emmy Award in 1975 for his CBS television production of Balanchine's Harlequinade.
10.
Edward Villella danced in two television versions of The Nutcracker, 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.
11.
In 1973, Edward Villella appeared as himself in an episode of The Odd Couple titled "Last Tango in Newark" during which he said that he always wanted to be a professional football player and that he took up ballet to meet girls; his son, Roddy, appeared.
12.
In 1983, Edward Villella guest-starred on the soap opera Guiding Light.
13.
Edward Villella has been artistic advisor to New Jersey Ballet since 1972 and currently is a special artist at New Jersey School of Ballet.
14.
Edward Villella was named founding artistic director of Miami City Ballet in 1985 and served in that role until 2012.
15.
Edward Villella has a son, Roddy, with his first wife, former New York City Ballet dancer Janet Greschler, to whom he was married from 1962 to November 1980.