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Gillian Murphy to give farewell performance with American Ballet Theater in July

Murphy appeared at BAM a decade ago when ABT presented 'The Nutcracker' in Brooklyn for several seasons, one of many Brooklyn connections to the national ballet company

December 11, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Gillian Murphy as Odette in Swan Lake. Photo by Rosalie O’Connor

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LINCOLN CENTER — American Ballet Theatre (ABT) announced on Monday, Dec. 9, that Gillian Murphy, an internationally celebrated principal dancer since 2002, will take her final bow in July 2025 at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Murphy performed at BAM in ABT’s production of “The Nutcracker” at the Howard Gilman Opera House in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014.

Longtime ABT benefactors and sponsors of Murphy are Brooklyn residents Ted and Mary Jo Shen. The Shens are among numerous key supporters of ABT who live in Brooklyn. Indeed, many of ABT’s performers and staff also reside in Brooklyn.

“Congratulations, Gillian, on your stellar career at ABT, throughout which you have thrilled your audiences with your extraordinary artistry, virtuosity and radiance,” the Shens said of Murphy’s retirement. “We shall always carry your scintillating performances in our memories and are deeply grateful for the special joy and privilege of having served as your ABT sponsors over the past 10 years!”

Oliver Smith and Lucia Chase in 1951. Photo by George Platt Lynes, courtesy of American Ballet Theatre

ABT, revered as a national treasure since its founding season in 1940, has many connections to Brooklyn. One of the co-founders was longtime Heights resident Oliver Smith, owner of the famous house on Willow Street where Truman Capote camped out for years. Smith was a famous designer whose sets are still being used by ABT.

ABT still uses Oliver Smith’s set designs for its productions of Jerome Robbins’s “Fancy Free” and Agnes de Mille’s “Rodeo.” Those are the only two ballets for which he designed sets that ABT has performed in recent years. ABT last performed “Fancy” in 2018 and “Rodeo” in 2015.

Lucia Chase and Oliver Smith. Photo by Kenn Duncan, courtesy of American Ballet Theatre

In 2006, by an act of Congress, ABT was designated America’s National Ballet Company. Based in New York City, ABT is the only cultural institution of its size and stature to extensively tour, enchanting audiences for eight decades in 50 U.S. states, 45 countries and over 480 cities worldwide. ABT’s repertoire includes full-length classics from the nineteenth century, the finest works from the early twentieth century and acclaimed contemporary masterpieces.

Gillian Murphy as Odette in Swan Lake. Photo by Emma Zordan

About Gillian Murphy

Raised in Florence, South Carolina, Murphy was a member of Columbia City Ballet before attending high school at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Under the tutelage of Melissa Hayden, Murphy performed principal roles in several of the school’s ballet productions including “The Nutcracker” and George Balanchine’s “Concerto Barocco,” “Western Symphony,” “Tarantella” and “Theme and Variations.”

In 1995, at the age of 15, Murphy was awarded the Prix de Lausanne Espoir after performing in the final round of the Prix de Lausanne international ballet competition at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. In 1996, she was a National Young Arts Foundation Winner in Dance. In 1998, she was honored with a Princess Grace Foundation-USA grant. The Princess Grace Foundation awarded her its highest honor, the Statue Award, in 2009. In May 2014, Murphy was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from her alma mater, and later, the Gillian Murphy Scholarship was established at UNCSA, to fund a full-tuition scholarship each year.

Her career includes performing as a guest artist with the Australian Ballet, the Staatsballett Berlin, the Kiev Ballet, the Mariinsky Ballet, the New York City Ballet, the Royal Swedish Ballet and three years as principal guest artist with the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Murphy has performed in numerous galas and guest appearances throughout the U.S. and across the globe.

Murphy joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet in 1996 before being promoted to soloist in 1999 and to principal dancer in 2002. For three summers, Murphy directed Dreamcatchers, a training program in Martha’s Vineyard for dancers aged 12 to 14, and she has taught master classes in Japan and throughout the United States. She is currently artistic associate at American Repertory Ballet. Murphy is married to former ABT Principal Dancer Ethan Stiefel.

Gillian Murphy in "Swan Lake." Photo by Gene Schavione — Gillian Murphy in “Swan Lake.” Photo by Gene Schavione

A farewell to Murphy

Murphy will take her final bow in the iconic role of Odette/Odile in “Swan Lake” on Friday, July 18, at the Metropolitan Opera House in Manhattan. To commemorate the occasion, the post-performance toast will be held on the Grand Tier of the opera house. Ticket holders will get the chance to join the toast with the purchase of an additional reception ticket. ABT will also honor Murphy at the Golden Circle Council Luncheon.

“Gillian’s contribution to the ballet world is deep and wide. Her intelligence and artistry, coupled with the strength of her technique, her authentic feminine presence and her versatility have inspired all of us for many years,” ABT Artistic Director Susan Jaffe said. “I can say with the utmost conviction that her performances will be dearly missed by everyone. Still, the beauty of her essence will live on in our hearts forever.”