Princeton Ballet School Alumna Now Dancing with New York City Ballet

PRINCETON, NJ – Former Princeton Ballet School student Unity Phelan is now dancing with New York City Ballet as an apprentice.  A native of Princeton, Phelan trained at Princeton Ballet School from 2000 until 2009 - from early childhood through her early teen years.  Phelan trained exclusively at Princeton Ballet School throughout the academic year, and spent a few summers away at summer intensive programs, including at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official training academy of the New York City Ballet.  In 2009 she began training at the School of American Ballet year-round, advancing through the levels while attending high school at the Professional Children’s School in New York. 

SAB was established in 1934 by choreographer George Balanchine and philanthropist Lincoln Kirstein as the first step towards creating New York City Ballet.  The company selects their dancers from their school, as SAB students are trained to have the technique and movement quality required of Balanchine’s ballets and of the company’s aesthetic.

“When my dream of dancing with New York City Ballet became a reality, the excitement overcame me,” Phelan recalls.  “I was told of my apprenticeship on December 6th after one of my SAB classes.  I was with my friend Lexi (Alexa Maxwell), who’s also an apprentice now.  Kay Mazzo, Co-Chairman of Faculty, walked into the studio with a straight face and said sternly, ‘Girls, you are both in very big trouble.’  We had no clue what was going on, but she started to laugh because our faces were so serious and scared.  When she told us the news, I burst into tears, and there were hugs all around.”

Phelan began her apprentice position in the middle of New York City Ballet’sNutcracker Season. “My first show was an overload of emotions,” she says.  “AfterNutcracker, I felt as though I could truly call myself a dancer.”  Since Nutcracker, Phelan has performed in George Balanchine’s Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky Suite #3, andSymphony in C, in Peter Martins’ Sleeping Beauty, and in Jerome Robbins’ Glass Pieces.

Princeton Ballet School Director Mary Pat Robertson recalls Phelan’s apparent talent as a young student.  “Unity is not only very physically gifted, but was always a delight to teach because of her complete focus on the direction being given, and her innate musicality and theatricality.  It was a pleasure to be her teacher for several years, and then see her progress to School of American Ballet and New York City Ballet.  We're all thrilled for her.”

About American Repertory Ballet and Princeton Ballet School

American Repertory Ballet's mission is to bring the joy, beauty, artistry and discipline of classical and contemporary dance to New Jersey and nationwide audiences and to dance students through artistic and educational programs.  The organization is comprised of: American Repertory Ballet, the preeminent contemporary ballet company in the state; Princeton Ballet School, one of the largest and most respected non-profit dance schools in the nation; and the Access and Enrichment initiatives, ranging from the long-running and acclaimed DANCE POWER program to the newly launched On Pointe series.  The professional company is a classical and contemporary ballet company committed to presenting ballets from the 19th and 20th century alongside new and existing works by choreographers from today.  Founded in 1963, the company is currently under the artistic leadership of Douglas Martin, former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet.  The company's rich history of repertory includes established masterpieces by distinguished American choreographers such as George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor and Twyla Tharp; cutting edge works by choreographers such as Val Caniparoli, Kirk Peterson, Dominique Dumais, Harrison McEldowney, Amy Seiwert, Susan Shields and Melissa Barak; and former Artistic Directors Dermot Burke, Marjorie Mussman, Septime Webre and Graham Lustig.  ARB has been designated a "Major Arts Institution" by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts consistently for the past two decades, and has repeatedly been awarded a Citation of Excellence by the Council.  ARB was voted People's Choice for Best Dance Company in 2008, 2011, and 2012.

Princeton Ballet School has gained a national reputation for its excellent dance training since its founding in 1954 by Audrée Estey. Princeton Ballet School currently enrolls approximately 1500 students annually from age three through adult and is directed by Mary Pat Robertson.  Princeton Ballet School has studios in Cranbury, New Brunswick, and Princeton which are equipped with shock-absorbent floors, non-slip dance surfaces and pianos for live accompaniment.  Many of Princeton Ballet School’s faculty members have performed professionally; others have attained graduate degrees in dance education and have won awards for their teaching.  Students from the school have gone on to dance in professional ballet and contemporary dance companies in the US and abroad. Graduates have danced with such diverse organizations as the American Ballet Theatre, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Miami City Ballet, STREB, Complexions, Mark Morris Dance Company, Twyla Tharp, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Momix.