Cory Stearns

Paul Cornell "Cory" Stearns (born October 16, 1985) is an American ballet dancer who is a former principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, one of the three leading classical ballet companies in the United States. Stearns is also a high fashion model.

Early life and training

Stearns began dancing at age of three with the encouragement of his mother (who studied the Graham technique when she was younger). He began ballet training age five at the Seiskaya Ballet in St. James, New York under the direction of Mme. Valia Seiskaya, formally of the National Opera of Greece. At thirteen, Stearns received a full scholarship to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's summer intensive. During Stearns' time at the Royal Ballet School he performed as pop artist Kylie Minogue's dance partner in her music video for Chocolate.

Stearns' first major role with ABT was Conrad in Le Corsaire in 2008, and roles since have included Solor in La Bayadère, Oberon in The Dream, Basilio and Espada in Don Quixote, titular role in Onegin, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Prince Siegfried and Von Rothbart in Swan Lake, James in La Sylphide and the Prince in Alexei Ratmansky's The Nutcracker.

Stearns retired in May 2026 following knee surgery.

Modeling career

Stearns began his modeling career by chance in 2009 when an agent spotted him at "New Andy's Deli". Since then he has modeled for Louis Vuitton, Ramsey, and Dolce & Gabbana and has been photographed by Bruce Weber, Steven Klein, and Annie Leibovitz who shot him alongside fellow dancers Benjamin Millepied and Stella Abrera for a Vogue Magazine spread.

Personal life

Stearns was raised in Mattituck, Long Island. He resides in Jersey City.

Dance repertoire

Solor in La Bayadère Her Prince Charming in Cinderella Conrad in Le Corsaire Basilio and Espada in Don Quixote Oberon in The Dream Études Colas in La Fille mal gardée Kaschei in The Firebird Albrecht in Giselle Grand Pas Classique Her Lover in Jardin aux Lilas Edward Rochester in Jane Eyre Armand Duval in Lady of the Camellias Des Grieux in Manon Beliaev in A Month in the Country The Nutcracker-Prince in Alexei Ratmansky's The Nutcracker Onegin in Onegin Other Dances Romeo and Paris in Romeo and Juliet

Prince Désiré, the Celtic Prince and a Fairy Knight in The Sleeping Beauty Prince Désiré in Ratmansky's The Sleeping Beauty Prince Siegfried and von Rothbart in Swan Lake James in La Sylphide The Poet in Les Sylphides Orion and Apollo in Sylvia Prince Coffee in Whipped Cream Monotones II Symphony in C Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes Dr. John Brown in Like Water for Chocolate

Created roles Mithridates in Of Love and Rage AFTERITE I Feel The Earth Move Her Notes Piano Concerto #1 A Time There Was From Here On Out One of Three Private Light

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Awards 2009 Erik Bruhn Prize for best male dance 2004 the Dame Ruth Railton Award for excellence in dance (Royal Ballet School) 2003 the Dame Ruth Railton Award for excellence in dance (Royal Ballet School)