Kyra Nichols

Kyra Nichols was born on July 2, 1958, in Berkeley, California. She received her dance training from her mother, Sally Streets, who danced with the New York City Ballet in the 1950s. She was also taught by Alan Howard, a former member of Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo and New York City Ballet. After the third summer, she was asked to stay as a full-time student. ==Career==

Nichols became an apprentice with the New York City Ballet in 1974, shortly before she turned 16. She was hired as a full company member later that year. Nichols worked closely with Balanchine. The various ballets by Balanchine she was known for include Serenade, The Nutcracker, Liebeslieder Walzer, Kammermusik No. 2, Divertimento No. 15, Following an unusually long 33-year career, Nichols retired from the New York City Ballet in 2007, shortly before she turned 49. In her farewell performance, she danced Serenade as the Waltz Girl, ''Robert Schumann's Davidsbündlertänze and "Der Rosenkavalier" from Vienna Waltzes'', all three were choreographed by Balanchine. At the company, she staged Balanchine's Concerto Barocco and Serenade. In 2017, she left to join the faculty of Indiana University Jacobs School of Music as Violette Verdy and Kathy Ziliak Anderson Chair in Ballet and professor of music in ballet, succeeding Violette Verdy, who died the previous year. In 2023, Nichols returned to New York City Ballet for the first time since her retirement to coach three ballets, including Robbins' Rondo, for the company's first performances of the ballet since 1980, as well as Balanchine's Walpurgisnacht Ballet and Donizetti Variations. ==Personal life==

Nichols is married to David Gray, who worked at the New York City Ballet press office. Gray would later serve as Pennsylvania Ballet's executive director. They have two sons, born in 1996 and 2001 respectively. ==References==