Date of Birth: December 29, 1952
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Biography
Gelsey Kirkland is an American ballet dancer who rose to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s. Born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, she began her ballet training at the School of American Ballet. She joined the New York City Ballet at the age of 15, where she quickly became a principal dancer under the mentorship of George Balanchine. Kirkland is best known for her role as Clara in the 1977 television production of “The Nutcracker,” which remains one of the most popular adaptations of the ballet. She danced with the American Ballet Theatre from 1974 to 1984, where she was partnered with notable dancers such as Mikhail Baryshnikov. Her career was marked by both artistic triumphs and personal struggles, including battles with eating disorders and substance abuse, which she candidly described in her autobiography, “Dancing on My Grave.”
5 Interesting Facts about Gelsey Kirkland
1. Gelsey Kirkland was a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet by the age of 17.
2. She famously turned down the role of Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet,” a decision she later regretted.
3. Kirkland has authored two autobiographies: “Dancing on My Grave” (1986) and “The Shape of Love” (1990).
4. She co-founded the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet in 2010 with her husband, Michael Chernov.
5. Kirkland’s portrayal of Clara in “The Nutcracker” is considered one of the definitive performances of the role.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gelsey Kirkland
1. “Dance is a song of the body. Either of joy or pain.”
2. “The only way to do it is to do it.”
3. “There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good.”
4. “To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful.”
5. “Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth achieved by Gelsey Kirkland is estimated to be around $2 million.
Children
Gelsey Kirkland does not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Gelsey Kirkland – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelsey_Kirkland
2. [Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet](http://gelseykirklandacademy.com/
3. [Dancing on My Grave – Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/568600.Dancing_on_My_Grave
4. [The Nutcracker (1977 – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076461/
5. [American Ballet Theatre – Official Site](https://www.abt.org/
