New York City Ballet announced today that soloists Ashley Bouder, Megan Fairchild, Janie Taylor, Joaquin De Luz and Stephen Hanna have been promoted to principal dancers, and corps de ballet members Teresa Reichlen, Adam Hendrickson and Daniel Ulbricht have been promoted to soloists.

The promotions were announced on the anniversary of NYCB co-founder George Balanchine’s birth (January 22, 1904), which also marks the company’s annual New Combinations Evening, an annual tribute to Mr. Balanchine’s birthday featuring the presentation of world premiere ballets. All of the promotions are effective immediately.

Ashley Bouder was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and began her ballet training at the age of six at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet with Marcia Dale Weary. After attending the 1999 Summer Program at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, she was invited by SAB to continue her training during the Winter Session. Ms. Bouder was named an apprentice with New York City Ballet in June 2000 and became a member of the corps de ballet that October. She was promoted to the rank of soloist in February 2004. At the SAB, Ms. Bouder was the Mae L. Wien Award recipient for 2000 and was NYCB’s Janice Levin Dancer Honoree for 2002-2003 season.

Megan Fairchild was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and began her dance training at the age of four, studying with Judy Levitre at Dance Concepts in Sandy, Utah; with Karen Chatterton at the Academy of Ballet Arts, also in Sandy; and at the Ballet West Conservatory in Salt Lake City with Sharee Lane, Deborah Dobson, and Maureen Laird. While at the Ballet West Conservatory, Ms. Fairchild was also a Ballet West trainee. Ms. Fairchild entered the School of American Ballet in the fall of 2000. In November 2001, Ms. Fairchild became an apprentice with New York City Ballet, and in October 2002 she joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet. Ms. Fairchild was promoted to the rank of soloist in February 2004. At SAB, Ms. Fairchild was the 2001 recipient of the Mae L. Wien Award.

Janie Taylor was born in Houston, Texas, where she began her ballet training at age four. At age 12, she moved to New Orleans and trained at the Giacobbe Academy of Dance. She entered the School of American Ballet full time in the fall of 1995. In June 1998, Ms. Taylor received the Mae L. Wien Award at the SAB Annual Workshop and was invited to become an apprentice with New York City Ballet. A month later, Ms. Taylor became a member of NYCB’s corps de ballet. She was promoted to the rank of soloist in February 2001.

Joaquin De Luz was born in Madrid and received his training at the Victor Ullate School of Ballet. He danced with the Victor Ullate Ballet Company from 1992 until 1995. In March 1996, Mr. De Luz won the Gold Medal at the Second Nureyev International Ballet Competition in Budapest, Hungary, and in August of that year, he joined the Pennsylvania Ballet as a soloist. Mr. De Luz joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in 1997 and was promoted to soloist in 1998. He joined New York City Ballet as a soloist in 2003.

Stephen Hanna was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He entered the School of American Ballet in the fall of 1992. Mr. Hanna became an apprentice with New York City Ballet in 1997, and later that year he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet. Mr. Hanna was promoted to the rank of soloist in February 2004.

Teresa Reichlen was born in Clifton, Virginia. She began her dance training at the age of 10 at the Russell School of Ballet with Thomas and Illona Russell, Mary Rogers, and Margaret McGarry. In 1999, Ms. Reichlen studied at the summer program of the School of American Ballet, and she entered SAB full time in the fall of the same year. In October 2000, Ms. Reichlen became an apprentice with New York City Ballet, and in October 2001 she joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet. Ms. Reichlen is NYCB’s Janice Levin Dancer Honoree for the 2004/2005 season.

Adam Hendrickson was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and began his ballet training at the age of six with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. In 1996, he received the Rudolf Nureyev Scholarship and was invited to continue his studies at the winter session of the School of American Ballet. In the spring of 1998 he became an apprentice with New York City Ballet, and in the summer of 1998, Mr. Hendrickson became a member of the corps de ballet.

Daniel Ulbricht was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, and began his dance training at the age of 11 at the Judith Lee Johnson Studio of Dance, studying with Lenny Holmes. He also studied at Les Jeunes Danseurs with Javier Dubraq and attended the Chautauqua Summer Dance Program, training with Jean Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride. In 1999, Mr. Ulbricht was invited by the School of American Ballet to continue his training during their Winter Program. In December 2000, he became an apprentice with New York City Ballet and in November 2001 he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet.