Violette Verdy

Distinguished Professor

Department of Ballet, Indiana University, Bloomington

Violette Verdy is a Distinguished Professor of Ballet at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She was principal dancer with the New York City Ballet for 20 years. An international ballerina, she performed with major companies in America and Europe. She is former artistic director of the Paris Opera Ballet and Boston Ballet. Throughout her career she has taught and choreographed for many companies and schools throughout the world including The New York City Ballet, The Royal Ballet, The Paris Opera, The Australian Ballet Company, The Royal Danish Ballet, The Ballet of Teatro Alla Scala and The Bolshoi Ballet Company, where she was the first outside female teacher invited since 1917.

Ms. Verdy is the author of two books and has acted in plays, television and films. Additionally, documentaries of her work have been released.

Ms. Verdy's awards are numerous. The Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres was bestowed upon her by the French Government in 1971. Twice in 1976, President and Mrs. Ford invited Ms. Verdy to dance at the White House and the Capitol. Her hometown in Brittany, France named its new theatre auditorium in her honor in 1992. Edward Villella of Miami City Ballet asked her to coach her original Balanchine roles for the Violette Verdy Festival. Kay Logan's Award for Excellence in Teaching was given to her in 2000 at the Chautauqua Institution. In 2001, Birmingham-Southern College awarded Ms. Verdy the Gala XV Women of Distinction Award. In the same year, Ballet Teachers in Higher Education CORPS de Ballet, Inc. presented her with their Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2003, the School of American Ballet bestowed their Artistic Achievements Award upon her. In December 2007 Ms. Verdy received the Ballet2000 Irène Lidova Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of a great personality that has been a beacon for several generations of artists of the dance.

Office: (812) 855-0410; E-mail: viverdy@indiana.edu