George De La Pena

George de la Peña, born on December 9, 1955, in New York City, is a distinguished American ballet dancer, choreographer, actor, and educator. Initially trained as a concert pianist, he shifted his focus to ballet while attending the High School for the Performing Arts. He further honed his skills at George Balanchine’s School of American Ballet and joined the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in the 1970s, where he quickly advanced to the role of soloist. During his tenure at ABT, de la Peña showcased his talent in works by renowned choreographers such as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Agnes de Mille, and Jerome Robbins.

In 1985, he relocated to California with his then-wife, Rebecca Wright, with whom he shares two children. Both appeared in Baryshnikov's televised production of The Nutcracker. De la Peña made his film debut as Vaslav Nijinsky in the 1980 film Nijinsky, which led to a series of roles often casting him in Russian characters. His Broadway credits include acclaimed productions such as Woman of the Year, the revival of On Your Toes, and Chronicle of a Death Foretold, earning him a Drama Desk Award nomination for The Red Shoes.

In addition to his extensive performance career, de la Peña has made significant contributions as a teacher at various prestigious institutions, including CalArts and the University of Iowa, while also collaborating with choreographer Martha Clarke. He remains active in the arts, recently appearing in the film The Dust Factory alongside Hayden Panettiere and directing routines for figure skater Debi Thomas at the Olympics.