Darci Kistler

Ballet dancer, born in Riverside, California, USA. Determined to be a dancer from age five, she studied with Irina Kosnovsha in Los Angeles, then went to New York City Ballet at age 14 to become the last of George Balanchine's great ballerinas, and at age 17 she became the youngest principal dancer in that company's history. During 1982–5 she was inactive due to a fractured ankle, but by 1989 she had fully recovered and returned to dancing with her peculiar mix of physical fearlessness and apparent effortlessness.

Darci Kistler (born June 4, 1964) was one of the more noted American ballerinas of the 20th century, and was the last lead dancer for the legendary choreographer George Balanchine.

Kistler was born in Riverside, California, and received her early training at the School of Dance, associated with California's Riverside Ballet.

After which Kistler joined the New York City Ballet in 1980, initially as part of the corps de ballet; She danced the role of the Sugarplum Fairy in New York City Ballet's 1993 film version of The Nutcracker.

Kistler joined the School of American Ballet's permanent faculty in 1994.

She married NYCB's ballet master in chief Peter Martins in 1991.