Merrill Ashley---From I Remember Balanchine by Francis Mason

Born in St Paul Minnesota, ion 1950: trained at The School of American Ballet; joined The New York City Ballet in 1966. She danced many roles in the Balanchine repertory, including Square Dance, Divertimento no 15, Sanguine in The 4 Temperaments, Symphony in C,Tchaikovsky Concerto No 2, and the Theme and Variations from Tchaikovsky Suite No 3. Balanchine created roles for her in Cortege Hongrois, Coppelia, Ballo della Regina, and Ballade. She published Dancing for Balanchine in 1984. Ashley also distingiushed herself in Peter Martin's Barber Violin Concerto for the American Music Festival at New York City Ballet. In her own words soon to come....