Deborah Wingert

Deborah Wingert trained as a dancer at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and the School of American Ballet in New York. When she was sixteen, George Balanchine asked her to join his New York City Ballet. During her fifteen-year career with the company, she danced more than 25 soloist and principal roles in works by Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Peter Martins. She also appeared in film and television recordings of Balanchine ballets and in programmes about his life.

Wingert started working for The George Balanchine Trust in 2000. Since then, she has staged Balanchine ballets for many American companies and schools, including Dance Theater of Harlem, Joffrey Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Baltimore School for the Arts and Indiana University.

In addition, Wingert is currently co-artistic director and head of the faculty of Manhattan Youth Ballet, and a member of the faculty of the Juilliard School. As a guest teacher, she has worked for many companies and institutions, including New York City Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Princeton University and Harvard University.

Last update: 06-02-2025