Claire Kretzschmar is an American ballet dancer, choreographer, and former soloist for the New York City Ballet.[1]
Claire Kretzschmar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1992 |
| Education | Fordham University |
| Occupation(s) | Dancer, choreographer |
Early life
editKretzschmar was born in Glendale, AZ in 1992. After moving to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Kretzschmar began studying dance with Community Ballet at Wake Forest University. In eighth grade, she enrolled in the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.[1][2]
Career
editAt 17, Kretzschmar moved to New York City to attend the School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center, where she studied under Suki Schorer, Suzi Pillare, Kay Mazzo, Peter Martins, Sean Lavery, and Andrei Kramarevsky.[3][2] In 2010, she joined the New York City Ballet as an apprentice. In 2011, Kretzschmar was promoted into the corps de ballet. In 2018, Kretzschmar made her soloist debut in George Balanchine's Stravinsky Violin Concerto. She has also performed in ballets choreographed by Jerome Robbins, Justin Peck, Kyle Abraham and Alexei Ratmansky.[2][4]
Kretzschmar holds a bachelor's degree in Communications from Fordham University.[5] She is currently the artistic director of Ballet Hartford and co-hosts the New York City Ballet podcast "The Rosin Box".[6][7] She is a co-founder of Arthouse2B.[1] In October 2022, Kretzschmar retired from the New York City Ballet.[8]
In 2020, Kretzschmar choreographed Rachmaninoff Variations set to Rachmaninoff's music, "Variations on a Theme of Chopin" for the New York Choreographic Institute. In 2022, she choreographed Rhapsodie set to commissioned music by Lauren Vandervelden.[9] For Ballet Hartford, she choreographed A Ceremony of Carols in 2023, with music of the same title by Benjamin Britten, and Venus in 2024, with music from Gustav Holst's "The Planets".[10]
In 2024, Kretzschmar choreographed Raffaella, an original full-length narrative ballet that premiered at the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend, Indiana.[11][12] A filmed live-stage recording of Raffaella is in development, slated to premiere October 31, 2024 at the University of Notre Dame.
Awards
edit- 2015 Martin E. Segal Award for rising artists[13][14]
- 2017 Janice Levin Award
References
edit- ^ a b c "Claire Kretzschmar". Ballet Hartford. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
- ^ a b c Christina Ray Stanton (April 26, 2022). "Waymakers: Claire Kretzschmar". Christians for Social Action. Sider Center of Eastern University. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
- ^ "Meet NY-based Dancer Claire Kretzschmar". Catholic Artist Connection. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
- ^ Cooper, Michael (2017-01-26). "Rehearse, Ice Feet, Repeat: The Life of a New York City Ballet Corps Dancer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Tom Stoelker (May 30, 2018). "New York City Ballet Dancers Hold First Fordham Diploma Ceremony". FordhamNow. Fordham University. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Ballet Hartford's new artistic director is a 'big win' for the growing company". Connecticut Public. 2024-04-24. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "City Ballet The Podcast". podcast.nycballet.com. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "POSTCARDS: Claire Kretzschmar, Artistic Director of Ballet Hartford, Choreographs "Raffaella" in Indiana". www.dance-enthusiast.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "From the NYCI: Spring Session 2022 Commissions | New York City Ballet". www.nycballet.com. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
- ^ "An Original Ballet Choreographed by Claire Kretzschmar to be Performed". Greater Hartford, CT Patch. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Dame, Marketing Communications: Web | University of Notre (2024-06-28). "Stories Unspoken that Steal Your Heart | Stories | Notre Dame Magazine | University of Notre Dame". Notre Dame Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Sarkissian, Emily (2024-06-02). "Claire Kretzschmar on creating new full-length ballet 'Raffaella'". Dance Informa Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Pogrebin, Robin (2015-02-09). "Lincoln Center Segal Awards Expand Field of Honorees". ArtsBeat. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ "Lincoln Center's Martin E. Segal Gala Awards Ceremony celebrates eleven outstanding young artists". ABC7 New York. Retrieved 2024-08-30.