Maria Kowroski
{{short description|American ballet dancer}}
{{Infobox dancer
| name = Maria Kowroski
| image =
| alt =
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|38|2016|05|20}}
| birth_place = Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
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| nationality =
| citizenship =
| education =
| occupation = Ballet dancer
| years_active = 1994-present
| home_town =
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| spouse = Martin Harvey
| partner =
| children = 1
| website =
| current_group = New York City Ballet
| former_groups =
| dances = Ballet
| module =
}}
Maria Kowroski is an American ballet dancer. She was a principal dancer at the New York City Ballet.{{cite web|url=https://www.nycballet.com/discover/meet-our-dancers/principal-dancers/maria-kowroski/|title=Maria Kowroski|work=New York City Ballet|access-date=July 8, 2020}}
Early life
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.
Career
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.{{cite news|url=https://www.pointemagazine.com/stella-abrera-maria-kowroski-2635269765.html|title=Longtime Friends Maria Kowroski and Stella Abrera on Performing Together for the First Time|work=Pointe Magazine|date=April 22, 2019}} Before her retirement she was the company's most senior dancer,{{cite news|url=https://www.elledecor.com/life-culture/a29832970/maria-kowroski-ballet-dancer-interview/|title=
Motherhood Reshaped Ballet Dancer Maria Kowroski's Career in a Touching Way|work=Elle Decor|date=November 20, 2019}} and the only remaining dancer to have worked with founding choreographer Jerome Robbins.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/04/arts/review-new-york-city-ballet-spring-gala-jerome-robbins.html|title=Review: City Ballet Salutes Jerome Robbins, a Master of 2 Realms|work=New York Times|date=May 4, 2018}}
Kowroski had danced with Mariinsky Ballet and Munich Ballet as guest artist. She also performed in Dance Against Cancer's 2019 concert. Also in 2019, Kowroski and fellow principal dancer Tyler Angle staged Agon for the School of American Ballet's showcase.{{cite news |title=School of American Ballet's Gutsy Kids: 'They Just Have to Dance' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/07/arts/dance/school-of-american-ballet-workshop-performances.html |work=New York Times |date=July 7, 2020}}
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.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-may-25-ca-artsnotes25.2-story.html|title=Barbie warms up for 'Swan Lake'|work=Los Angeles Times|date=May 25, 2003}}{{cite web|title=Dancing on Air: The Making of Barbie in The 12 Dancing Princesses| website=YouTube | date=4 June 2007 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0Hdb5oFqYQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/l0Hdb5oFqYQ |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}
She retired in October 2021{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/23/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-cancels-winter-and-spring-seasons.html|title=City Ballet Won't Return to the Stage Until September|newspaper=New York Times|date=October 23, 2020}} and became the acting artistic director of the New Jersey Ballet.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/15/arts/dance/maria-kowroski-retires-from-new-york-city-ballet.html|title=Farewell to a Ballerina With Borscht Belt Humor and 'Legs of Life'|work=New York Times|date=October 15, 2021}}
Selected repertoire
Kowroski's repertoire with the New York City Ballet includes:
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
- After the Rain Pas de Deux
- Agon
- Apollo
- Carnival of the Animals
- The Concert
- Concerto Barocco
- Dances at a Gathering
- The Firebird
- "Emeralds", "Rubies" and "Diamonds" from Jewels
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (Titania)
- Movements for Piano and Orchestra
- The Nutcracker (Sugarplum Fairy, Dewdrop, Coffee)
- Romeo + Juliet (Lady Capulet)
- Polyphonia
- The Sleeping Beauty (Lilac Fairy, Carabosse, Diamond)
- Swan Lake (Balanchine)
- Swan Lake (Martins)
- Serenade
- Symphony in C (Second Movement)
- La Valse
- Vienna Waltzes
=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
Kowroski is married to actor and former Royal Ballet dancer Martin Harvey. They have a son, born in 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/22/arts/dance/a-ballerinas-return-from-maternity-leave.html|title=A Ballerina's Return From Maternity Leave|work=New York Times|date=May 22, 2016}} Kowroski's mother died due to cancer.
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
!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
{{Reflist}}
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Category:American prima ballerinas
Category:New York City Ballet principal dancers
Category:Princess Grace Awards winners
Category:School of American Ballet alumni
Category:People from Grand Rapids, Michigan
Category:Dancers from Michigan
Category:21st-century American ballet dancers