Presenting our 2014 Jury: Kay Mazzo, president

The jury of the Prix de Lausanne is composed of nine renowned personalities of the dance world.

The Prix de Lausanne is delighted to be able to provide the young dancers of the competition with a prestigious panel of dance professionals and wishes to take this opportunity to thank them for their time and expertise. Their voluntary work is extremely appreciated.

During the following weeks, we are going to present each member of the 2014 Prix de Lausanne Jury. Today, we are happy to start with the president!

Kay Mazzo, president of the 2014 Jury

Kay Mazzo was born in Chicago, where she received early training before entering the Summer Course of the School of American Ballet at age 12. She subsequently enrolled as a full time student in SAB’s advanced division in 1959.

Following performances with Jerome Robbins’ Ballets U.S.A., Ms. Mazzo became a member of the New York City Ballet in 1961 and was promoted to principal dancer in 1968. Among those ballets in which Ms. Mazzo originated principal roles are George Balanchine’s STRAVINSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO, DUO CONCERTANT, SCHERZO A LA RUSSE, UNION JACK, VIENNA WALTZES, TSCHAIKOVSKY SUITE NO. 3, and ROBERT SCHUMANN’S DAVIDSBUNDLERTANZE; and Jerome Robbins’s DANCES AT A GATHERING and IN THE NIGHT. Over the course of her nearly twenty-year career, she danced virtually every role in the repertory. Her partners included Jacques d’Amboise, Peter Martins, Edward Villella, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Sean Lavery.

In 1983, Ms. Mazzo joined the faculty of SAB, serving as a coordinator of curriculum between 1993 and 1997. She was appointed Co-Chairman of Faculty in October 1997. She currently teaches intermediate and advanced classes and, with Chairman of Faculty Peter Martins, oversees all aspects of the training of SAB’s 440 Winter Term students and 200 Summer Course students. She is a founding trustee of The George Balanchine Trust.

 Kay Mazzo, présidente du jury 2014

Kay Mazzo est née à Chicago, où elle a reçu sa formation initiale avant de participer au cours d’été de la School of American Ballet à 12 ans et de rejoindre la division avancée en 1959.

Après avoir dansé avec la compagnie de ballet de Jerôme Robbins aux USA, Kay Mazzo est entrée au New York City Ballet en 1961 et a été promue Etoile en 1968. Au cours de sa carrière de près de vingt ans, elle a dansé pratiquement tous les rôles du répertoire et parmi ses partenaires figurent Jacques d’Amboise, Peter Martins, Edward Villella, Mikhail Baryshnikov, et Sean Lavery.
En 1983, Kay Mazzo a rejoint la faculté de SAB en tant que coordinatrice du programme et, en 1997, a été nommée co-présidente de la faculté. Elle est également membre fondatrice du George Balanchine Trust.

Kay Mazzo | Ph. (c) Rosalie O’Connor