Askegard joined
American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in 1987, and was promoted to soloist in 1992. In 1997, he left ABT to join
New York City Ballet as a soloist and was promoted to principal the next year. Askegard appeared in
PBS's
Live from Lincoln Center broadcast, "New York City Ballet's Diamond Project: Ten Years of New Choreography" in 2002, dancing in
Them Twos and two years later in the
Live from Lincoln Center broadcast, "Lincoln Center Celebrates Balanchine 100," in
Vienna Waltzes. He has been a guest artist with
Pacific Northwest Ballet, Ballet Etudes of South Florida,
Bayerisches Staatsballett,
Philippine Ballet Theatre, The Daring Project and Stars of American Ballet. He also appeared in
Fred Wiseman's 1995 documentary film
Ballet. Askegard danced his farewell performance the last day of the fall 2011 season, Sunday, October 9; the program consisted of the
Diamonds pas de deux from
Jewels,
Episodes,
In Memory of ... and
Western Symphony. He planned to form his own ballet company, Ballet Next, with former
ABT principal dancer
Michele Wiles. == Personal life ==