Edward Villella
This video was created as part of the 50th anniversary of the agency in 2015 and features dancer/choreographer Edward Villella, whose storied career started under the legendary George Balanchine as principal dancer for the New York Ballet. From 1968 to 1974, he served on the NEA’s National Council on the Arts, and became the founding artistic director of Miami City Ballet (a frequent NEA grantee) in 1985, serving until 2012. In 1997, he received the National Medal of Arts.