Famous Ballet Dancers - List of Famous Ballet Dancers

Who among us has not admired those beautiful and elegant ballerinas skillfully gliding across the dance floor swaying to melodious music? Ballet dancers are the individuals who practice the art of ballet, a type of performance dance that originated in Italy during the Renaissance period. Classical ballet, though one of the most prestigious forms of dance is also a very demanding one. A ballet dancer’s career is fleeting—it begins early and ends early. A typical ballet dancer has a very grueling schedule. They go through years of rigorous training, hours of rehearsals and classes, and harsh physical demands. It is such a demanding career that only the ones with an intense passion for the art form can persevere in this field. Anna Pavlova, undoubtedly one of the most celebrated ballet dancers ever, was renowned for her role of the Dying Swan which immortalized her. Vaslav Nijinsky who performed during the early 20th century was counted among the greatest male ballet dancers for his magnificent leaps and intense characterization. Russian actor Mikhail Nikolaevich Baryshnikov is also counted along Nijinsky as one of the greatest male ballet dancers. Even though ballet dancers have a brief career, they get to enjoy tremendous face and acclaim within this short period. Browse on to learn about the famous ballet dancers who have left their marks on the dance world.

The Most Famous Ballet Dancers

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Margot FonteynMay 18, 1919BritishMargot Fonteyn was an English ballerina counted amongst the greatest classical ballet dancers of all time
Agnes de MilleSeptember 18, 1905AmericanAgnes de Mille was a famous American dancer and choreographer
Galina UlanovaJanuary 8, 1910RussianGalina Ulánova was a Russian ballerina who gained acclaim as one of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century
Martha GrahamMay 11, 1894AmericanMartha Graham was a prominent American dancer who was the first dancer ever to perform at the White House
Rudolf NureyevMarch 17, 1938AustrianRudolf Khametovich Nureyev was a Soviet ballet dancer, considered a prominent figure of the art in the 20th century.
Autumn MillerAugust 2, 2001AmericanAutumn (Autie) Miller is an American YouTuber, dancer, model and actor
Darcey BussellApril 27, 1969BritishDarcey Andrea Bussell is a British retired ballerina
Benjamin MillepiedJune 10, 1977FrenchBenjamin Millepied is a French dancer who was associated with the New York City Ballet
Julia Goldani TellesMarch 18, 1995AmericanJulia Goldani Telles is an American actress and ballet dancer
Twyla TharpJuly 1, 1941AmericanTwyla Tharp is an American dancer and choreographer famous for her unique styles of dancing
Margot Fonteyn

Margot Fonteyn

Margot Fonteyn was an English ballerina counted amongst the greatest classical ballet dancers of all time

BritishMay 18, 1919565 views

Rudolf Nureyev

Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev was a Soviet ballet dancer, considered a prominent figure of the art in the 20th century.

AustrianMarch 17, 1938260 views

Vaslav Nijinsky

Vaslav Nijinsky was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer, considered as the greatest male dancer of the 20th century

UkrainianMarch 12, 1889187 views

Mikhail Baryshnikov

Mikhail Baryshnikov is a Russian-American ballet dancer, who is regarded as one of the best ballet dancers of all time

AmericanJanuary 27, 1948160 views

Michael Kidd

Michael Kidd was an American choreographer famous for his “integrated musical” technique

AmericanAugust 12, 1915181 views

Robert Joffrey

Robert Joffrey was an American choreographer who co-founded the famous Joffrey Ballet

AmericanDecember 24, 1930186 views

Twyla Tharp

Twyla Tharp is an American dancer and choreographer famous for her unique styles of dancing

AmericanJuly 1, 1941205 views

Anna Pavlova

Anna Pavlova was a Russian prima ballerina best known for her role as ‘The Dying Swan’

RussianFebruary 12, 1881185 views

Julia Goldani Telles

Julia Goldani Telles is an American actress and ballet dancer

AmericanMarch 18, 1995215 views

Autumn Miller

Autumn (Autie) Miller is an American YouTuber, dancer, model and actor

AmericanAugust 2, 2001257 views