Company

A product of the School of American Ballet and New York City Ballet, Gloria Govrin was the vanguard of the
tall-is-terrific look of modern ballet. Ms. Govrin’s strength, stature, and stamina made her a star soloist for many
years. George Balanchine often choreographed roles specifically for her because of her stage presence and
unique abilities. Roles such as Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Coffee in The Nutcracker, the
Princess in Firebird, and La Bonne Fée in Harlequinade were so stamped with Ms. Govrin’s identity that the
entrances and exits on the score were marked with her name rather than that of the role. Mr. Balanchine also
established her in high-profile roles and ballets such as Stars and Stripes, Western Symphony, Apollo, Agon,
Dewdrop in The Nutcracker, and many others.

Upon retirement, Gloria opened her own school and company in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In 1986, Robert
Weiss asked her to join Pennsylvania Ballet as a teacher, and from there she became Principal Teacher at The
Rock School, the official school of Pennsylvania Ballet. There, Gloria choreographed showcases, conducted
audition tours, created and presented lecture demonstrations, taught company classes, and assisted in staging
Balanchine repertoire. In 1999, she was invited by Helgi Tomasson to become Associate Director of the San
Francisco Ballet School. During her eight years there, she trained many students who went on to professional
careers with San Francisco Ballet, as well as many other companies worldwide.

Following her tenure in San Francisco, Ms. Govrin was recruited to serve as Artistic Director of Eastern
Connecticut Ballet. During her 18 years of leadership, she elevated the school’s artistic reputation and training
program, with students earning acceptance into many of the nation’s most prestigious summer intensives and
year-round professional training programs. Under her direction, numerous former students went on to dance
with internationally recognized ballet companies and continue to enjoy successful careers throughout the
professional dance world.

Over the years, Gloria Govrin has been an invaluable mainstay in the ballet world. People still refer to her
strength and commanding stage presence as a dancer, but she has yet to find a greater passion in this art than
teaching. Ms. Govrin is considered one of the leading masters of ballet technique, and she is excited to bring
her years of experience, artistry, and dedication to the students at Ballet RI.