Gelsey Kirkland

Gelsey Kirkland (born December 29, 1952) is an American ballerina. She was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Kirkland joined the New York City Ballet in 1968 at age 15. She was promoted to soloist in 1969, and principal in 1972. She went on to create leading roles in many of the great twentieth century ballets by Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Antony Tudor. She appeared in Balanchine's revival of "The Firebird", Robbins' "Goldberg Variations", and Tudor's "The Leaves are Fading". She left the New York City Ballet to join the American Ballet Theatre in 1974.
She is best known for dancing the role of Clara Stahlbaum in Baryshnikov's 1977 televised production of "The Nutcracker". She left the American Ballet Theatre in 1984.