Megan Fairchild

Megan Fairchild (born October 23, 1984) is an American ballet dancer. She is currently a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet.[1]

Megan Fairchild
Born (1984-10-23) October 23, 1984
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
EducationSchool of American Ballet
OccupationBallet dancer
Years active2001–present
Children3
Career
Current groupNew York City Ballet
Websitemeganfairchild.com

Early life

Fairchild was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and began her dance training at the age of four, studying with Judy Levitre and Kaelynne Oliphant at Dance Concepts in Sandy, Utah, and at the Ballet West Conservatory in Salt Lake City with Sharee Lane, Deborah Dobson, and Maureen Laird. While at the Ballet West Conservatory, Ms. Fairchild was also a Ballet West trainee. Ms. Fairchild entered the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, in the fall of 2000.

Her brother, Robert Fairchild was also a principal with the company.[2] She and her brother are both recipients of the Mae L. Wien Award at the School of American Ballet.[3]

Career

In November 2001, Fairchild joined the New York City Ballet as an apprentice, and in October 2002 she joined the Company became a member of the corps de ballet. Fairchild was promoted to the rank of soloist in February 2004, and in January 2005, she was promoted to principal dancer.

In 2011, she danced the role of Sugar Plum Fairy in a telecast of The Nutcracker.

Fairchild made her Broadway stage debut playing the role of Ivy Smith in the 2014 revival of On the Town,[4] which opened on October 16, 2014, at the Lyric Theatre. She received the 2015 Theatre World Award for her performance. She is currently a Teaching Fellow with the School of American Ballet.[1]

Fairchild defended Peter Martins, then Ballet Master in Chief of the New York City Ballet, when he was accused of physical and sexual abuse. She said she felt safe working with him.[5]

Selected repertoire

George Balanchine

August Bournonville

Peter Martins

Jerome Robbins

Created roles
  • Robert La Fosse: Land of Nod (Natalie)
  • Peter Martins: Bal de Couture, Naïve and Sentimental Music
  • Angelin Preljocaj: Spectral Evidence
  • Alexei Ratmansky: Namouna, A Grand Divertissement, Voices
  • Susan Stroman: "The Blue Necklace" from Double Feature (Florence)
  • Christopher Wheeldon: Shambards

Personal life

In 2011, Fairchild married fellow New York City Ballet principal Andrew Veyette,[6] but they quietly divorced in 2017.[7] She is the mother of three daughters, including a pair of twins.[8][9][10] She has a degree in mathematics and economics from Fordham University[11] and is currently studying for an M.B.A. at New York University.[8]

From 2014 to 2017, Fairchild was the sister-in-law of fellow dancer Tiler Peck, through her marriage to Megan's brother Robert.[12]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work Result
2001 Mae L. Wien Award Outstanding Promise Won
2015 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical On The Town Nominated
Theatre World Award Won
Astaire Award Best Female Dancer Won

References
  1. "Megan Fairchild". New York City Ballet. April 17, 2020.
  2. Kourlas, Gia (October 16, 2016). "Robert Fairchild Says Goodbye to City Ballet With Balanchine and Roses". New York Times.
  3. Henry, Sally. "BWW Interview: Robbie and Megan Fairchild Talk Awards Season, Broadway vs. Ballet, and More!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  4. Kaufman, Joanne (March 20, 2015). "Megan Fairchild, Ballet Dancer, at Home in Westchester". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  5. Pogrebin, Robin (January 1, 2018). "Peter Martins Retires From New York City Ballet After Misconduct Allegations". New York Times.
  6. Brady, Lois Smith (August 5, 2011). "Megan Fairchild and Andrew Veyette". The New York Times.
  7. Kourlas, Gia (September 22, 2017). "Megan Fairchild, the Swan with the Screwball Spark". The New York Times.
  8. Fairchild, Megan (April 14, 2020). "A Dancer's Quarantine Diary: Coming Full Circle". New York times.
  9. "Megan Fairchild On C-Section Guilt, Perfectionism & Returning To The Stage". May 3, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  10. Kourlas, Gia (April 22, 2021). "'I Wish I Got Pregnant in March!' Inside the Dance Baby Boom". New York Times.
  11. "Megan Fairchild, the Swan With the Screwball Spark". New York Times. September 22, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  12. Kennedy, Mark. "Married ballet stars Tiler Peck, Robert Fairchild split" apnews.com, June 19, 2017
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