Merrill Ashley Honored for Excellence in Performing Arts
Merrill Ashley Originated Roles for Legendary Choreographers George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins

NEW YORK, NY, December 10, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ --Merrill Ashley, Ballet Coach, Teacher and Lecturer for Merrill Ashley Inc., has been recognized by Cambridge Who's Who for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in all aspects of performing arts.

With 42 years of experience in dance, Merrill Ashley has enjoyed a rich and varied career as a performer and teacher. She spent 31 years in the New York City Ballet, and has graced stages for 20 of them as a Principal Dancer across France, Russia, Germany, China and the United States. Now a sought-after ballet coach, instructor and lecturer, she stages ballets for The George Balanchine Trust and continues to travel the world to teach the Balanchine technique and style.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota and raised in Rutland, Vermont, Ms. Ashley began ballet training at the age of 7. When she was 13 years old, she won one of the first Ford Foundation scholarships to the School of American Ballet in New York, the official school of the New York City Ballet. In 1967, at age 16, she was invited by George Balanchine to join the corps de ballet of the New York City Ballet. By the time Ms. Ashley was promoted to soloist in 1974, she was already dancing Theme and Variations and Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2, two of the most technically demanding roles ever choreographed by Mr. Balanchine. He crafted a solo for her in Coppelia and Cortege Hongrois, and choreographed two Ballo della Regina and Ballade to highlight her talents. Ballade, one of his last ballets, showcased what The New York Times called, "the kind of dancing that helps to shape standards of greatness." In recognition of the legendary choreographer's influence on her life and career, Ms. Ashley entitled her autobiography "Dancing for Balanchine." It was published in 1984.

In addition to the ballets of George Balanchine, Ms. Ashley brought to life the visions of such choreographers as Jerome Robbins, Jacques d'Amboise and John Clifford. She danced a wide variety of ballets in the Robbins repertoire, including Dances at a Gathering and The Goldberg Variations. He also originated roles for her in Concertino and Brahms/Handel, the latter of which he choreographed with Twyla Tharp. Ms. Ashley also originated principal roles in Peter Martins' Barber Violin Concerto, Fearful Symmetries, and The Sleeping Beauty.

Though now focused on teaching, Ms. Ashley still performs occasionally as a guest artist for the New York City Ballet, the Boston Ballet, and the Royal Danish Ballet. She looks forward to staging more ballets as a freelancer, conducting private coaching, and sharing the techniques that had helped make her so successful.

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Ellen Campbell
Cambridge Who's Who
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