Ballerina Patricia McBride is being honored at The Kennedy Center. Born in Teaneck, New Jersey in 1942, she joined the New York City Ballet in 1959 – when she was 17 – making her the company’s youngest principal. McBride spent nearly 30 years dancing with the New York City Ballet, and in roles created for her by George Balanchine including Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Choreographer Jerome Robbins also created roles for McBride including in Dances at a Gathering and Opus 19/The Dreamer.
McBride married fellow New York City Ballet principal dancer Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. The Frenchmen joined the Paris Opera Ballet at the age of 14, and later danced with McBride and Balanchine for the New York City Ballet. Now in his early 70s, Bonnefoux is the president and artistic director of Charlotte Ballet, where McBride is associate artistic director and master teacher. They’ve been married for 41 years.
