Jump to content

Maria Kowroski

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maria Kowroski
Born1977 or 1978 (age 46–47)
Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
OccupationBallet dancer
Years active1994-present
SpouseMartin Harvey
Children1
Career
Current groupNew York City Ballet
DancesBallet

Maria Kowroski is an American ballet dancer. She was a principal dancer at the New York City Ballet.[1]

Early life

[edit]

Kowroski was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She started ballet at the age of five. In 1992, she entered the School of American Ballet in New York City.[1]

Career

[edit]

In 1994, at the age of 17, Kowroski entered the New York City Ballet as an apprentice, and became a member of the corps de ballet a year later. She was promoted to soloist in 1997 and principal dancer in 1999. She has danced classical productions such as Swan Lake, Balanchine's works including Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux and The Nutcracker, and originated roles such as Christopher Wheeldon's After the Rain.[1][2] Before her retirement she was the company's most senior dancer,[3] and the only remaining dancer to have worked with founding choreographer Jerome Robbins.[4]

Kowroski had danced with Mariinsky Ballet and Munich Ballet as guest artist.[1] She also performed in Dance Against Cancer's 2019 concert.[2] Also in 2019, Kowroski and fellow principal dancer Tyler Angle staged Agon for the School of American Ballet's showcase.[5]

Kowroski served as motion capture dancer of Barbie for Barbie in the Nutcracker, Barbie of Swan Lake and Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses. She also appeared in a documentary regarding the latter.[6][7]

She retired in October 2021[8] and became the acting artistic director of the New Jersey Ballet.[9]

Selected repertoire

[edit]

Kowroski's repertoire with the New York City Ballet includes:[1]

Created roles

  • After the Rain
  • Bal de Couture
  • "Blossom Got Kissed" from Duke!
  • "The Blue Necklace" from Double Feature (Dorothy Brooks)
  • Les Carillons
  • Double Aria
  • Everywhere We Go
  • The Exchange
  • In Vento
  • Lifecasting
  • Lineage
  • Luce Nascosta
  • Musagète
  • Prism
  • Oltremare
  • Organon
  • Outlier
  • Them Twos
  • Thou Swell
  • Slice to Sharp
  • Variations Sérieuses
  • Vespro

Personal life

[edit]

Kowroski is married to actor and former Royal Ballet dancer Martin Harvey.[3] They have a son, born in 2016.[10] Kowroski's mother died due to cancer.[2]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2001 Barbie in the Nutcracker Motion capture dancer - Clara
2001 Living a Ballet Dream Herself Documentary
2003 Barbie of Swan Lake Motion capture dancer - Odette
2006 Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses Motion capture dancer - Genevieve
2006 Dancing on Air: The Making of Barbie in The 12 Dancing Princesses Herself Documentary
2020 On Pointe Herself Documentary

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Maria Kowroski". New York City Ballet. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Longtime Friends Maria Kowroski and Stella Abrera on Performing Together for the First Time". Pointe Magazine. April 22, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Motherhood Reshaped Ballet Dancer Maria Kowroski's Career in a Touching Way". Elle Decor. November 20, 2019.
  4. ^ "Review: City Ballet Salutes Jerome Robbins, a Master of 2 Realms". New York Times. May 4, 2018.
  5. ^ "School of American Ballet's Gutsy Kids: 'They Just Have to Dance'". New York Times. July 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "Barbie warms up for 'Swan Lake'". Los Angeles Times. May 25, 2003.
  7. ^ "Dancing on Air: The Making of Barbie in The 12 Dancing Princesses". YouTube. 4 June 2007. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  8. ^ "City Ballet Won't Return to the Stage Until September". New York Times. October 23, 2020.
  9. ^ "Farewell to a Ballerina With Borscht Belt Humor and 'Legs of Life'". New York Times. October 15, 2021.
  10. ^ "A Ballerina's Return From Maternity Leave". New York Times. May 22, 2016.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maria_Kowroski&oldid=1252933705"