Darci Kistler


Darci Kistler is an American ballerina. She is often said to be the last muse for choreographer George Balanchine.

Early life

Kistler was born in Riverside, California, the fifth child of a medical doctor and his wife. Her brothers excelled in amateur wrestling, and she followed them into water-skiing, basketball, football and horseback riding.

Ballet career

At age 4, Kistler received her first tutu and began ballet training that same year. She claimed although she was always athletic, she could never keep up with her brothers—so ballet turned out to be one cornerstone she had mastered. After seeing a ballet performance of Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn, she decided she wanted to take up ballet herself. She studied with Mary Lynn at Mary Lynn's Ballet Arts and later with Irina Kosmovska in Los Angeles.
In early 1979, Kistler was selected to study at New York City Ballet's School of American Ballet, where she met George Balanchine. She joined the New York City Ballet corps de ballet in 1980, and was featured in a Time article before the end of the year.
Kistler was promoted to soloist in 1981 and principal dancer in 1982, the youngest ever at 17 years. Signature roles include Balanchine's Jewels, Agon, Prodigal Son and Symphony in C. She danced the rôle of the Sugarplum Fairy in City Ballet's 1993 film version of The Nutcracker. She eventually wrote her own autobiography "Ballerina: My Story" as a children's book.
Kistler joined the SAB's permanent faculty in 1994.
Throughout her career, she had numerous dance-related injuries, including a broken ankle that sidelined her for three years. She went through several surgeries, including for her back.
In February 2009, Kistler announced her retirement from New York City Ballet at the end of the 2010 season. Her farewell performance took place on June 27, 2010, and consisted of ballets choreographed by Balanchine and Martins:Monumentum pro GesualdoMovements for Piano and OrchestraA Midsummer Night's Dream excerptDanses ConcertantesSwan Lake final act

Personal life

Kistler married New York City Ballet's balletmaster-in-chief Peter Martins in 1991. In July 1992, Martins was arrested and held for five hours after Kistler phoned the police for help. Kistler filed an affidavit accusing him of assaulting her, pushing and slapping her, and cutting and bruising her arms and legs, leading to a charge of third-degree assault. Kistler dropped the charges a few days later, saying she preferred to resolve the matter without the court's intervention. When she next performed in a ballet two days later, she reportedly wore heavy makeup to conceal bruises she had suffered. Several people who knew the two well claimed it wasn't the first time Martins had hit Kistler.
Kistler and Martins have one daughter, Talicia Tove Martins, born June 13, 1996.

Jerome Robbins

AndantinoGershwin Concerto
  • ''Piccolo Balletto''

Ulysses Dove

  • ''Red Angels''

Robert La Fosse

  • ''Danses de Cour''

Peter Martins

Adams Violin ConcertoBach Concerto VBurleskeThe Chairman DancesDelight of the MusesGuide to Strange PlacesHarmonielehreMorgenOctet NYCB premierePiano-Rag-MusicRomeo + Juliet Lady CapuletThe Sleeping BeautyStabat MaterSuite from Histoire du SoldatSymphonic DancesSymphony No. 1Tālā GaismaThou SwellTodo Buenos Aires
  • ''Viva Verdi''

Featured roles

George Balanchine

AgonApolloBrahms–Schoenberg QuartetBugakuConcerto BaroccoEpisodesThe Nutcracker Dewdrop and the Sugar Plum FairyJewels DiamondsA Midsummer Night's DreamMonumentum pro GesualdoMovements for Piano and OrchestraMozartianaOrpheusProdigal Son

Jerome Robbins

In G Major

Peter Martins

PapillonsSongs of the Auvergne

Television