Patricia Neary

Patricia Neary, born in Miami, studied classical dance with Georges Milenoff and Thomas Armour and at the School of American Ballet. At the age of 14, she received her first engagement with the National Ballet of Canada. In 1960, she joined the New York City Ballet and became a soloist of the company two years later. She danced all the important roles in the extensive Balanchine repertoire, but also achieved great success as Odette/Odile in »Swan Lake« and as Myrtha in »Giselle«. Especially for her, Balanchine created the principal roles in »Raymonda Variations« (1961) and »Rubies« from »Jewels« (1967).

Patricia Neary’s photographic memory, her musicality and ability to learn even the most difficult parts in shortest time led Balanchine to entrust her with the staging of his ballets all over the world, including the companies in Paris, London, Copenhagen, Stuttgart, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Cape Town and Tokyo. From 1971 to 1973 Patricia Neary was Ballet Master at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, in 1973 she took over the direction of the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, which she developed into a central place for Balanchine’s choreographic work. The same applies to the Ballet of the Zurich Opera, which she directed from 1978 to 1985. In the 1986/87 season, she was Ballet Director of the Teatro alla Scala di Milano.

Since 1988, Patricia Neary has been concentrating on the staging and preservation of Balanchine’s artistic legacy on behalf of The George Balanchine Trust and has produced over 30 of his ballets with numerous renowned companies worldwide.

With the Vienna State Ballet Patricia Neary has been collaborated since the 1970s. After working on Balanchine’s »Symphony in C«, »Apollo«, »The Four Temperaments« and »Tchaikovsky Pas de deux«, she returns for the revivals of »Symphony in C« and »Allegro brillante« in the 2021/22 season.