The second part of our Hear the Dance exploration of Balanchine’s Prodigal Son continues, with host Silas Farley and former NYCB Principal Dancer Edward Villella looking back on Villella’s legendary career. They discuss Balanchine’s recreation of Apollo on the young dancer; the Company’s momentous tour of the Soviet Union; and the importance of School of American Ballet teacher Stanley Williams’ mentorship to Villella’s development as a dancer and as a leader in the field. Villella would go on to found Miami City Ballet with the idea, as he explains, to “provide people with the closest to the best of themselves that they could achieve,” with his NYCB history providing the motivation and education that inspired this vision. (35:15)

This is a continuation of Part One of this episode.

Music: Apollon Musagète (1928) by Igor Stravinsky Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra (1929) by Igor Stravinsky Agon (1953-56) by Igor Stravinsky