Megan Fairchild


Megan Fairchild is an American ballet dancer. She is currently a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet.

Early life

Fairchild was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and began her dance training at the age of four, studying with Judy Levitre and Kaelynne Oliphant at Dance Concepts in Sandy, Utah, and at the Ballet West Conservatory in Salt Lake City with Sharee Lane, Deborah Dobson, and Maureen Laird. While at the Ballet West Conservatory, Ms. Fairchild was also a Ballet West trainee. Ms. Fairchild entered the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet, in the fall of 2000.
Her brother, Robert Fairchild was also a principal with the company. She and her brother are both recipients of the Mae L. Wien Award at the School of American Ballet.

Career

In November 2001, Ms. Fairchild joined the New York City Ballet as an apprentice, and in October 2002 she joined the Company became a member of the corps de ballet. Ms. Fairchild was promoted to the rank of soloist in February 2004, and in January 2005, she was promoted to principal dancer.
In 2011, she danced the role of Sugar Plum Fairy in a telecast of The Nutcracker.
Fairchild made her Broadway stage debut playing the role of Ivy Smith in the 2014 revival of On the Town, which opened on October 16, 2014 at the Lyric Theatre. She received the 2015 Theatre World Award for her performance. She is currently a Teaching Fellow with the School of American Ballet.
Fairchild defended Peter Martins, then Ballet Master in Chief of the New York City Ballet, when he was accused of physical and sexual abuse. She claimed she felt safe working with him.

Selected repertoire

George Balanchine
August Bournonville
Peter Martins
Jerome Robbins
Robert La Fosse: Land of Nod
Peter Martins: Bal de Couture, Naïve and Sentimental Music
Angelin Preljocaj: Spectral Evidence
Alexei Ratmansky: Namouna, A Grand Divertissement, Voices
Susan Stroman: "The Blue Necklace" from Double Feature
Christopher Wheeldon: Shambards

Personal life

Fairchild is married and has a daughter. She has a degree in mathematics and economics from Fordham University. She is currently studying for an M.B.A. at New York University.

Awards and nominations