Cynthia Gregory facts for kids

Cynthia Kathleen Gregory (born July 8, 1946) is a famous American ballet dancer. She was known for her amazing performances and is considered one of the best ballet dancers from the United States.

Becoming a Ballerina

Cynthia Gregory was born in Los Angeles. She started dancing when she was five years old. Her parents encouraged her because they hoped exercise would help her stay healthy. When she was young, Cynthia was inspired to study ballet after seeing a performance by famous dancers Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev.

• By age six, she was already dancing en pointe (on the tips of her toes).
• At age seven, she appeared on the cover of Dance Magazine.
• Later in her career, she even danced with Rudolf Nureyev in a ballet called Romeo and Juliet. Nureyev called her "America's Prima ballerina assoluta", which means she was considered the very best ballet dancer in America.

Early Training and Success

Cynthia Gregory trained a lot with Carmelita Maracci. When she was 14, she received a special scholarship from the Ford Foundation. This allowed her to study with the San Francisco Ballet. She quickly became a soloist, which is a dancer who performs alone or with a small group. Soon after, she became a principal dancer, which is the highest rank in a ballet company. She also danced with the San Francisco Opera.

Joining American Ballet Theatre

In 1965, Cynthia Gregory moved to New York and joined the American Ballet Theatre (ABT). This is one of the most famous ballet companies in the world.

• In 1967, while ABT was on tour, Gregory made her first big performance as Odette-Odile in Swan Lake.
• Her New York debut in the same role later that year showed everyone she was a major ballet star. Many people still think her performance in Swan Lake was one of the best ever.

Famous Roles and Performances

Cynthia Gregory danced in many important ballets. Her lead roles included classic performances like:

• Giselle
• Sleeping Beauty
• Coppélia
• Don Quixote
• La Sylphide

She also performed in modern ballets. At ABT alone, Gregory danced in over eighty different ballets. More than a dozen of these were created especially for her.

In 1986, Gregory was chosen to open the newly renovated Paramount Theater in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It became the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts.

Guest Performances and Retirement

Cynthia Gregory left ABT in 1991 to try different types of dance. She continued to perform as a special guest dancer with companies like Cleveland San Jose Ballet and Connecticut Ballet Theatre. She stopped her public performances in 1992.

Her career included guest performances with many leading dance companies around the world, such as:

• National Ballet of Canada
• Zurich Ballet
• San Francisco Ballet
• Vienna State Opera Ballet
• Ballet Nacional de Cuba
• Stuttgart Ballet

She even appeared in Linda Ronstadt’s music video for the song “When You Wish Upon a Star.”

After Dancing

Today, Cynthia Gregory helps stage classical ballets. She also coaches dancers and teaches master dance classes for companies worldwide. She has created her own dance pieces, including a solo to Bach’s “Air on the G String.” She also choreographed a two-minute rock video for Campbell's Soup.

Gregory has been featured in advertising campaigns for companies like American Express, Raytheon, and Rolex.

From 1991 to 2015, Gregory was the Chairman of the Board for Career Transition For Dancers. This organization helps dancers find new careers when they stop dancing due to age or injury. In 2015, it joined with the Actors Fund of America.

Since 2008, Gregory has been on the board of directors for the Isadora Duncan Dance Foundation. This group works to continue the legacy of the famous dancer Isadora Duncan.

In 2010, Nevada Ballet Theatre announced that Gregory would be an artistic advisor for their professional company and dance academy. They even created the Cynthia Gregory Center for Coaching at their studios in Las Vegas.

Awards and Recognition

Cynthia Gregory has received many honors for her contributions to dance:

• In 1975, she received the Dance Magazine Award.
• In 1978, she received the Harkness Ballet’s first annual Dance Award.
• She is the only person to win annual awards from Dance Educators of America twice (in 1981 and 1988).
• In 1988, New York Woman magazine gave her its first “Showstopper of the Year” award.
• The New York Public Library named her a “Lion of the Performing Arts” in 1989.
• She received a lifetime-achievement award from the National Arts Club in 1991.
• Hofstra University gave her an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 1993.
• She received another honorary doctorate from State University of New York–Purchase College in 1995.

Personal Life and Hobbies

Cynthia Gregory is the daughter of Konstantin and Marcelle Tremblay Gregory. Her father was a dress manufacturer.

She has written two books:

• Ballet is the Best Exercise
• Her children’s book, Cynthia Gregory Dances Swan Lake, was published in October 1990.

In her free time, Gregory enjoys drawing her most memorable ballet roles. She uses pen-and-ink and watercolor. Her artwork has been shown at:

• The gallery at Lincoln Center
• Art shows in Greenwich and Rowayton, Connecticut
• Private art galleries
• Her drawings have also appeared on dance posters and CD covers.

See also

In Spanish: Cynthia Gregory para niños