{{Short description|American ballet dancer and choreographer}} '''John Selya''' is a professional dancer and choreographer. Selya was born in New York City and trained at the School of American Ballet. He joined the American Ballet Theatre in 1988, where he danced roles such as Birbanto and Lankendem in ''Le Corsaire'', Lead Gypsy in ''Don Quixote'', Head Fakir in ''La Bayadere'', Dr. Coppelius in ''Coppelia'', and an Ugly Stepsister in Ben Stevenson's ''Cinderella''. He choreographed several ballets for the company, including ''Moondance'', ''Jack and Jill'', ''Don't Panic'', ''Turnstile'', and ''Disposition''. In 2000, Selya joined Twyla Tharp Dance.

Selya appeared in the 2010 Broadway musical ''Come Fly Away'' in which Twyla Tharp choreographed songs sung by Frank Sinatra. He previously appeared in the Broadway revival of ''Guys and Dolls'' (2009) as Scranton Slim, in ''Damn Yankees'' as Eddie/Mambo Dancer (2008), and in ''The Times They Are A-Changin' ''as Lucibeal (2006). He played the character "Eddie" in the show ''Movin' Out'' for which he received the 2003 Tony and Drama Desk nominations for Best Male Dancer and Lead Actor in a musical and won the 2003 TDF/Astaire Award for Best Male Dancer in a Musical and the Theater World Award.

==Choreography== In the spring of 2008, Selya premiered two works, "Tweaker" and "La Voix humaine" (after Cocteau's play) at the Joyce SoHo,<ref name="nyt">{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/arts/dance/26sely.html | title=Twists and Turns of a Final Phone Call | work=New York Times | accessdate=March 6, 2013 | author=Dunning, Jennifer | author-link=Jennifer Dunning }}</ref> where he was awarded a choreographic residency.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IBDB name}} *[https://soundcloud.com/american-theatre-wing/episode14 John Selya and Ashley Tuttle: ''Downstage Center'' 2004 interview], American Theatre Wing

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Selya, John}} Category:American male ballet dancers Category:Artists from New York City Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Mae L. Wien Award recipients Category:American Ballet Theatre dancers Category:School of American Ballet alumni Category:Jewish American male actors Category:Theatre World Award winners