Peter Martins

Birthday: 27 October 1946, Copenhagen, Denmark

Height: 188 cm

Peter Martins was born on October 27, 1946 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is known for his work on The Turning Point (1977), Living a Ballet Dream: Six Dancers Tell Their Stories (2001) and Åbning af Operaen (2005). He has been married to Darci Kistler since 1981. They have one child. He was previously married to Lise La Cour.

There were 12-hour days when I was tempted to say to hell with this, but I've made my peace with fam...Show more »

There were 12-hour days when I was tempted to say to hell with this, but I've made my peace with fame and glamor. I'm a dancer, not a prince. Show less «

There are a hundered dancers who need attention, help and coaching. They come and ask you when they ...Show more »

There are a hundered dancers who need attention, help and coaching. They come and ask you when they need help, not when you have the time to listen. Show less «

(On retiring from dancing early to take the helm at the New York City Ballet): "I haven't regretted ...Show more »

(On retiring from dancing early to take the helm at the New York City Ballet): "I haven't regretted it for one moment." Show less «

(On George Balanchine as a teacher): "He told me that if I listened to him, I would have a future wi...Show more »

(On George Balanchine as a teacher): "He told me that if I listened to him, I would have a future with the company - but if I didn't I might as well as go to American Ballet Theatre [ABT] and be a classical dancer." Show less «

Choreography is like poison. Once bitten, it's in your system. I find myself thinking of it constant...Show more »

Choreography is like poison. Once bitten, it's in your system. I find myself thinking of it constantly. When the day comes that I quit dancing, I may actually enjoy it. Show less «

(On what it takes to be a professional ballerina): "It doesn't hurt to be pretty."

It's one of those freak things that happen in people's lives sometimes. I do not consider myself a v...Show more »

It's one of those freak things that happen in people's lives sometimes. I do not consider myself a violent man in any way. It's never going to happen again. Show less «

I was the only male around who knew his Balanchine's 'Apollo.' I thought I was wonderful. Afterward ...Show more »

I was the only male around who knew his Balanchine's 'Apollo.' I thought I was wonderful. Afterward this old man [Balanchine] showed me how it should have been danced. Show less «

Balanchine had this habit of calling up at 7 in the morning and not saying who he was. Of course you...Show more »

Balanchine had this habit of calling up at 7 in the morning and not saying who he was. Of course you recognized him. And he said, 'Meet me for breakfast.' So of course you jumped. And we sat down and he said to me, 'You have to take this company. You have to take it when I'm gone.' Show less «

If these (ballet) critics were to make a list of 10 world choreographers, they would never include m...Show more »

If these (ballet) critics were to make a list of 10 world choreographers, they would never include me. I'm simply not considered a choreographer to them. Show less «

[Why he left Denmark and The Royal Ballet of Denmark for America and The New York City Ballet]: The ...Show more »

[Why he left Denmark and The Royal Ballet of Denmark for America and The New York City Ballet]: The Danes are wonderful people, but too insular. I needed to expand. Show less «

Peter Martins

Peter Martins's FILMOGRAPHY

Feedback about this page?