Slideshow: Ballet Legend Wendy Whalen Visits Dance Program

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MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – The ballet dancer Wendy Whalen, whose storied career featured 30 years with the New York City Ballet, spent a day in Middlebury recently, speaking with classes and giving a career talk. Later in the day, she conducted a master class for 40 students and members of the community at the dance theatre.

Whalen’s visit was made possible by a local member of the Middlebury Arts Council, who sponsored the visit and introduced Whalen to Associate Professor of Dance Christal Brown.

Over the course of her career, Whalen danced virtually all the major Balanchine roles and worked closely with Jerome Robbins on many of his ballets. She originated roles in ballets by such notable choreographers as William Forsythe, Twyla Tharp, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, Jorma Elo, Shen Wei, and Wayne MacGregor. She was promoted to soloist in 1989 and to principal dancer in 1991.

Whalen’s visit to campus was also made possible by the Center for Careers and Internships and the Professors of the Practice program.

Photos by Jon Olender