Merrill Ashley

Linda Michelle Merrill (born December 2, 1950), known professionally as Merrill Ashley, is an American former ballet dancer and répétiteur. She joined the New York City Ballet in 1967, was promoted to principal dancer in 1977, and retired in 1997. She is one of the last dancers to have worked with George Balanchine, and coaches his works since she stopped performing.

Early life Linda Michelle Merrill was born on December 2, 1950, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and raised in Rutland, Vermont. She started ballet at age seven. In 1964, at thirteen, she entered the School of American Ballet full-time with a scholarship.

Career She joined the New York City Ballet in 1967, making her debut as a corps dancer in A Midsummer Night's Dream. As there was another dancer named Linda Merrill, she performed under the stage name Merrill Ashley. She was promoted to soloist in 1974 and principal dancer in 1977. and created two lead roles for him, in Ballo della Regina and Ballade. Balanchine also revived The Four Temperaments and Square Dance for her. Ashley also originated roles in Robbins' Requiem Canticles, Robbins' and Tharp's Brahms/Handel and Martins' Fearful Symmetries. Her book, Dancing with Balanchine, was published in 1984. She was the longest-serving dancer at New York City Ballet at the time.

Personal life In 1974, Ashley married Kibbe Fitzpatrick, a United Nations linguist.