Barbara Fallis

Barbara Fallis (1923/1924 – September 5, 1980) was an American ballet dancer and educator. She danced for many prominent companies, including the American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet, and later started her own school, the New York School of Ballet, with husband Richard Thomas.

Early life Fallis was born in 1923 or 1924 in Denver, Colorado. Shortly after, her family moved from the United States to London, England for her father's work. The Fallis family remained in London for 12 years until World War II. Her love and pursuit of dance began during this time. She and her mother attended many performances by notable dance companies of the time, including Ballet Russe, which spurred Barbara's interest in dance at a young age. Fallis said she preferred roles in the company, over soloist parts, as it enabled her to perform as much as possible. It was in Cuba that she met fellow dancer and husband Richard Thomas. The couple married in Cuba in 1950 and had their first child, Richard Thomas, in 1951, before returning to New York in 1953. In 1958, she left New York City Ballet and began a short period of performances at Jacob's Pillow.

Later in 1975, subsequent to Feld's departure from the school, Barbara and Richard founded the company U.S. Terpsichore to provide their students with performance opportunities. The couple's second child, Bronwyn Thomas, as well as their son, Richard Thomas, were among the performing members of the company. The company toured a wide variety of repertory including over 30 ballets in both contemporary and classical styles. U.S. Terpsichore was very successful, and the funds raised from the touring performances continually funded the New York School of Ballet.

Fallis taught at the school alongside her husband until her death on September 5, 1980. She died at New York Hospital, where she was being treated for cancer, at age 56.