Violette Verdy Remembered

Born in Pont-L'Abbe, France, Violette Verdy began her dancing career in 1945 as a soloist with Roland Petit's Ballets des Champs Elysée. She joined American Ballet Theater in 1957 and a year later was invited to join the New York City Ballet as principal dancer, a position she held for almost 20 years until her retirement from the stage.
In 1977 Ms. Verdy was appointed the first female Artistic Director of the Paris Opera Ballet and later became Artistic Director of the Boston Ballet.The French government conferred two separate honors upon her. In 1973, Violette Verdy received the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres, while in June of 2009, she received the Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur.

[@markbeck8384]

What a wonderful woman; she just glows.

[@emitch9213]

She is such a gift to the ballet world...love her spirit!

[@hae-jungaliciakoh18]

"The sacred fire" -- the most beautiful thing I have ever heard in the dance context!!!

[@pedinurse1]

Ballet as a young teen, not even sure if I was a teen but I fell in love with ballet because of her

[@orlihimmelweit2105]

She is always so articulate. A great loss. No one does Tchaikovsky PDD like she did. Sacred fire indeed!

[@LaLaJonesG]

Love her, miss her. The sacred fire - no truer words.

[@sofaneci]

Violette nous manque!!