Mira Nadon (born ) is an American ballet dancer. She joined the New York City Ballet in 2018, and in 2023, she was promoted to principal dancer, as the first Asian American woman to hold this position.
Early life and education
Nadon was born in Boston. Her mother, originally from India, was a lawyer, and her father is a professor of government. She has a twin brother. When she was five, her father took a position at
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College (CMC) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Claremont, California. It has a curricular emphasis on government, economics, public affairs, finance, and internat ...
, and her family moved to California.
Nadon began her training at Inland Pacific Ballet Academy in Montclair, California. At age 12, while participating in the academy's summer intensive, she learned excerpts of several works by
George Balanchine
George Balanchine (;
Various sources:
*
*
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* born Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze; ka, გიორგი მელიტონის ძე ბალანჩივაძე; January 22, 1904 (O. S. January 9) – April 30, 1983) was ...
, which led to her fascination with him and the New York City Ballet (NYCB). The next two years, she attended the summer program at the
School of American Ballet
The School of American Ballet (SAB) is the most renowned ballet school in the United States. School of American Ballet is the associate school of the New York City Ballet, a ballet company based at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New ...
(SAB), NYCB's school. Then, the 14-year-old Nadon began attending the school full-time. At the end of her second year, she danced a lead role in Balanchine's '' Scotch Symphony'' at SAB's annual workshop performance.
Nadon completed high school through
Professional Children's School
Professional Children's School (PCS) is a not-for-profit, college preparatory school geared toward working and aspiring child actors and dancers in grades six through twelve. The school was founded in New York City in 1914 to provide an academic ed ...
, concurrently with her time at SAB and NYCB. After she graduated, she began studying at
Fordham University
Fordham University () is a Private university, private Jesuit universities, Jesuit research university in New York City. Established in 1841 and named after the Fordham, Bronx, Fordham neighborhood of the The Bronx, Bronx in which its origina ...
.
Career
Nadon became an apprentice with NYCB in November 2017, at just 16, and joined the company as a member of the corps de ballet in 2018. In 2019, at 18, she danced her first major role, as the tall girl in Balanchine's "Rubies" from '' Jewels''. Her performance was singled out by '' New York Times'' critic Gia Kourlas, who called it the "crowning jewel" of the season and "a promise to the future." The newspaper listed her performance among "Best Dance of 2019", and named her one of "The Biggest Breakout Stars of 2019".
As a corps dancer, Nadon also danced featured roles in Balanchine's '' Raymonda Variations'', '' The Nutcracker'' (as Dewdrop), ''
Monumentum pro Gesualdo
''Monumentum pro Gesualdo'' is a ballet by the New York City Ballet (NYCB) co-founder and balletmaster George Balanchine to music by Igor Stravinsky composed in honor of the 400th birthday of the composer Carlo Gesualdo and consisting of Stravins ...
'' and '' Movements for Piano and Orchestra'', Robbins' '' Glass Pieces'', in Martins' '' The Sleeping Beauty'' (as Fairy of Courage), Peck's ''Bright'' and Tanowitz's ''Bartók Ballet''. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she appeared in ''pixilation in a wave (Within Wires)'', a film made for NYCB's digital season, with choreography by Sidra Bell. She also originated a role in Bell's ''Suspended Animation'' (2021).
In January 2022, Nadon was promoted to soloist. She originated roles in Justin Peck's ''Partita'' (2022) and ''Copland Dance Episodes'' (2023), and in Keerati Jinakunwiphat's ''Fortuitous Ash'' (2023). She also danced in NYCB's first performance of Robbins' ''Rondo'' since 1980. As a soloist, she also danced featured roles in ballets such as Balanchine's '' The Four Temperaments'', '' Vienna Waltzes'', ''The Nutcracker'' (as Sugar Plum Fairy), ''
Stravinsky Violin Concerto
Igor Stravinsky's Violin Concerto in D is a neoclassical violin concerto in four movements, composed in the summer of 1931 and premiered on October 23, 1931. It lasts approximately twenty minutes.
It was used by George Balanchine as music for tw ...
'' and '' Episodes'', as well as in Martins' '' The Sleeping Beauty'' (as Lilac Fairy and Diamond), and Wheeldon's ''DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse''.
In February 2023, the 21-year-old Nadon was named principal dancer, becoming the first Asian American woman to hold this position at NYCB.
Clive Barnes Award
Clive Alexander Barnes (13 May 1927 – 19 November 2008) was an English writer and critic. From 1965 to 1977, he was the dance and theater critic for ''The New York Times'', and, from 1978 until his death, ''The New York Post.'' Barnes had sign ...