ROY KAISER

Mr. Kaiser joined Pennsylvania Ballet in 1979 and was promoted first to soloist, then to principal dancer in 1990. In 1987, while still performing, Mr. Kaiser became Assistant Ballet Master. Finding that he enjoyed teaching and the administrative aspects of ballet, he was named Ballet Master upon his retirement from performing in 1992; and to Associate Artistic Director of the company in October 1993.

Since his appointment to Interim Artistic Director in May 1994 and then Artistic Director in February 1995, Mr. Kaiser has been committed to advancing Pennsylvania Ballet’s artistic achievements and bringing an eclectic and diversified repertory to audiences. During his tenure as Artistic Director, the Company has premiered an array of classical and contemporary ballets including The Sleeping Beauty, David Parsons’ Mood Swing, Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo, Lar Lubovitch’s Waiting for the Sunrise, George Balanchine’s Apollo and Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, Alvin Ailey’s The River, Peter Martins’ Fearful Symmetries and The Waltz Project, John Cranko’s The Taming of the Shrew, and Paul Taylor’s Company B.

In addition to teaching and coaching the company, Mr. Kaiser’s commitment to Pennsylvania Ballet’s artistic growth has included the creation and/or staging of new works by both emerging and established choreographers such as Dwight Rhoden, Kevin O’Day, Alan Hineline, and Trey McIntyre; as well as company dancer/choreographers Jeffrey Gribler, Matthew Neenan and Meredith Rainey. By combining new works with classical favorites and nurturing the company’s Balanchine legacy, Mr. Kaiser is developing Pennsylvania Ballet as a company for both the present and future of American dance.

Under his direction as Ruth and A. Morris Williams, Jr. Artistic Director, the company launched its 1994-1995 season with a critically acclaimed appearance at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and was invited to return for The Kennedy Center’s Balanchine Celebration in 2000. The company also performed at The Sintra Festival in Portugal and The Meadows Award ceremony honoring Paul Taylor at Southern Methodist University. An active member of the dance community, Mr. Kaiser has served on dance panels for the National Endowment of the Arts and the Princess Grace Foundation.

New York Choreographic Institute
20 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York NY   10023
Telephone: 212-870-4060
NYChoreoInst@nycballet.com