June 4
Born Today:
Darci Kistler
Ballerina Darci Kistler (1964-) began her training at the age of four and in 1979 she was selected to study at the School of American Ballet, joining the NYCB company the following year. Kistler was promoted to the rank of principal dancer at 17 and she performed the role of the Sugarplum Fairy in the 1993 filmed version of The Nutcracker, choreographed by George Balanchine (1904-1983). Kistler is married to dancer and Balanchine successor, Peter Martins (1946-), who stepped down in 2018. After a 30-year career dancing the Balanchine repertory and works by Martins, Kistler retired from performing in 2010.
Also Born Today: Flamenco dancer Pilar Lopez (1912-2008) is best known for her performance in the 1933 version of El Amor Brujo, along with her sister, dancer La Argentinita (1898-1945), whose early death inspired Lopez to form her own group. She gave flamenco dancer Antonio Gades (1936-2004) his start at the age of fifteen. Ballerina Nina Vyroubova (1921-2007) performed with choreographer Roland Petit (1924-2011) in the 1940s and with Serge Lifar (1905-1986) at the Paris Opera in the 1950s. She was one of the first to dance with Rudolf Nureyev (1938-1993) post-defection in 1961. Kabuki performer Tomijuro Nakamura V (1929-2011) made his debut in 1943 and performed under different names before taking his father’s performing name in 1972, appearing on television and in films including Sharaku (1995).
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Ballet Premiere: Scheherazade in 1910