Peter Martins

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Martins, Peter (b Copenhagen, 27 Oct. 1946). Danish dancer, choreographer, and ballet director. Balanchine's successor at New York City Ballet. He studied at the Royal Danish Ballet School (1953-65) and joined the Royal Danish Ballet in 1965, appointed its youngest principal in 1967. After several seasons guesting in New York, he joined New York City Ballet as a principal in 1970, where he created roles in many Balanchine ballets, among them Violin Concerto (1972), Duo concertant (1972), Chaconne (1976), Union Jack (1976), Vienna Waltzes (1977), and Davidsbündlertänze (1980). He mastered the Balanchine repertoire, and for many was the greatest Apollo of his day, with his tall, powerful physique and blond good looks. He forged an outstanding partnership with Suzanne Farrell, for whom he choreographed Sophisticated Lady upon her retirement in 1988. For Robbins he created parts in In the Night (1970), The Goldberg Variations (1971) and Piano Concerto in G (1975). He created the leading role in Taras's Daphnis and Chloe (1975). Although he performed the 19th-century classics with other companies, he was never interested in pursuing a career as a danseur noble, preferring the modern repertoire. He made his debut as a choreographer in 1977, with Calcium Light Night (mus. Ives) for his own company; in 1978 he began choreographing for New York City Ballet and has since choreographed more than 60 ballets, most of them for NYCB. Following Balanchine's death in 1983 he was appointed ballet master in chief of New York City Ballet, a post he shared with Robbins. In 1990, following Robbins's departure, Martins assumed sole directorship. A list of his works includes Eight Easy Pieces (mus. Stravinsky, 1980), The Magic Flute (mus. Drigo, 1981), A Schubertiad (mus. Schubert, 1984), Poulenc Sonata (mus. Poulenc, 1985), Eight More (mus. Stravinsky, 1985), Songs of Auvergne (1986), Ecstatic Orange (mus. Michael Torke, 1987), Les Gentilhommes (mus. Handel, 1987), Barber Violin Concerto (mus. Barber, 1988), Sophisticated Lady (mus. Ellington, 1988), Tea Rose (mus. Gershwin, 1988), The Chairman Dances (mus. John Adams, 1988), Fearful Symmetries (mus. Adams, 1990), Delight of the Muses (mus. Wuorinen, 1992), Jeu de cartes (mus. Stravinsky, 1992), and River of Light (mus. Charles Wuorinen, 1998). He also staged The Sleeping Beauty for New York City Ballet in 1991, trimming it to a two-act production. In 1996 he staged a new version of Swan Lake for the Royal Danish Ballet; in 1999 he staged Swan Lake for NYCB. He has also choreographed for musicals, including On Your Toes (1982), Song and Dance (1985), and Carousel (1986). He retired as a dancer in 1984. Author of the autobiography Far from Denmark (Boston, 1982). Knight of the Order of Dannebrog (1983). His son, Nilas Martins, joined New York City Ballet in 1986.