{{short description|American ballet dancer}} {{use American English|date=March 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox dancer | name = Mira Nadon | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|21|2023|02|26}}<!-- {{birth date and age|yyyy|mm|dd}} or {{birth date|yyyy|mm|dd}} For living people supply only the year unless the exact date is already WIDELY published, as per WP:DOB. --> | birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | education = School of American Ballet | occupation = ballet dancer | years_active = 2017–present | height = | spouse = | partner = | children = | website = <!-- {{URL|website}} --> | current_group = New York City Ballet | former_groups = | dances = | module = }} '''Mira Nadon''' (born {{birth based on age as of date|21|2023|02|26|noage=1}})<ref name=Kourlas/> is an American ballet dancer. She joined the New York City Ballet in 2018, and in 2023, she was promoted to principal dancer, as the first Asian American woman to hold this position.
==Early life and education== Nadon was born in Boston. Her mother, originally from India, was a lawyer, and her father is a professor of government. She has a twin brother. When she was five, her father took a position at Claremont McKenna College, and her family moved to California.<ref name=Lansky/>
Nadon began her training at Inland Pacific Ballet Academy in Montclair, California. At age 12, while participating in the academy's summer intensive, she learned excerpts of several works by George Balanchine, which led to her fascination with him and the New York City Ballet (NYCB).<ref name=Lansky/> The next two years, she attended the summer program at the School of American Ballet (SAB), NYCB's school. Then, the 14-year-old Nadon began attending the school full-time.<ref name=Lansky>{{cite news|url=https://pointemagazine.com/mira-nadon-ballet-2/|title=New York City Ballet's Mira Nadon: An Artist Beyond Her Years|work=Pointe|last=Lansky|first=Chava Pearl|date=July 6, 2021}}</ref> At the end of her second year, she danced a lead role in Balanchine's ''Scotch Symphony'' at SAB's annual workshop performance.<ref name=Lansky/>
Nadon completed high school through Professional Children's School, concurrently with her time at SAB and NYCB. After she graduated, she began studying at Fordham University.<ref name=Lansky/>
==Career== Nadon became an apprentice with NYCB in November 2017, at just 16, and joined the company as a member of the corps de ballet in 2018.<ref name=Lansky/> In 2019, at 18, she danced her first major role, as the tall girl in Balanchine's "Rubies" from ''Jewels''.<ref name=Lansky/> Her performance was singled out by ''New York Times'' critic Gia Kourlas, who called it the "crowning jewel" of the season and "a promise to the future."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/14/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-fall-season.html|title=At New York City Ballet, the Good, the Bad and the Ruby|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=October 14, 2019}}</ref> The newspaper listed her performance among "Best Dance of 2019", and named her one of "The Biggest Breakout Stars of 2019".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/06/arts/dance/best-dance.html|title=Best Dance of 2019|work=New York Times|last1=Kourlas|first1=Gia|last2=Burke|first2=Siobhan|last3=Seibert|first3=Brian|date=December 6, 2019}}</ref><ref name=Salam>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/19/arts/breakout-stars.html|title=The Biggest Breakout Stars of 2019|work=New York Times|last=Salam|first=Maya|date=December 19, 2019}}</ref>
As a corps dancer, Nadon also danced featured roles in Balanchine's ''Raymonda Variations'', ''The Nutcracker'' (as Dewdrop), ''Monumentum pro Gesualdo'' and ''Movements for Piano and Orchestra'', Robbins' ''Glass Pieces'', in Martins' ''The Sleeping Beauty'' (as Fairy of Courage), Peck's ''Bright'' and Tanowitz's ''Bartók Ballet''.<ref name=Lansky/><ref name=Kourlas2/><ref name=25TW>{{cite news|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/emerging-dancers-2020/|title=Introducing Our 2020 "25 to Watch"|work=Dance Magazine|date=March 29, 2021}}</ref><ref name=WSJ>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/serenade-george-balanchine-new-york-city-ballet-tchaikovsky-symphony-in-c-after-the-rain-pas-de-deux-arvo-part-philip-glass-jerome-robbins-11633464745|title=Dipping a Toe Back Into Live Performance|work=Wall Street Journal|last=Greskovic|first=Tobert|date=October 5, 2021}}</ref> During the COVID-19 pandemic, she appeared in ''pixilation in a wave (Within Wires)'', a film made for NYCB's digital season, with choreography by Sidra Bell.<ref name=Lansky/> She also originated a role in Bell's ''Suspended Animation'' (2021).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/01/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-fashion-gala.html|title=Review: The Costume Dramas of New York City Ballet|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=October 1, 2021}}</ref>
In January 2022, Nadon was promoted to soloist.<ref name=Kourlas2>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/24/arts/dance/city-ballet-promotions.html|title=City Ballet Promotes Seven Dancers as Performances Resume|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=January 24, 2022}}</ref> She originated roles in Justin Peck's ''Partita'' (2022) and ''Copland Dance Episodes'' (2023), and in Keerati Jinakunwiphat's ''Fortuitous Ash'' (2023).<ref name=Kourlas4>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/28/arts/dance/review-justin-peck-partita-new-york-city-ballet.html|title=Review: At City Ballet, Giving Voice to the Body, With Sneakers|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=January 28, 2022}}</ref><ref name=BWW2>{{cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/New-York-City-Ballet-Announces-Principal-Dancer-Promotions-20230227|title=New York City Ballet Announces Principal Dancer Promotions|work=BroadwayWorld|last=Wild|first=Stephi|date=February 27, 2023}}</ref> She also danced in NYCB's first performance of Robbins' ''Rondo'' since 1980.<ref name=Kourlas3>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/29/arts/dance/kyra-nichols-coaching-new-york-city-ballet.html|title=Easy Does It: Bringing Old-School Wisdom to City Ballet|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=January 29, 2023}}</ref> As a soloist, she also danced featured roles in ballets such as Balanchine's ''The Four Temperaments'',<ref name=Kourlas5>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/02/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-winter-season.html|title=Winter Season at City Ballet: 'Now Is the Time for a New Generation'|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=March 2, 2022}}</ref> ''Vienna Waltzes'',<ref name=Kourlas6>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/21/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-fall-season.html|title=The Brilliance and the Blahs of City Ballet. (And Then There's Solange.)|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=October 21, 2022}}</ref> ''The Nutcracker'' (as Sugar Plum Fairy),<ref name=Kourlas7>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/21/arts/dance/george-balanchines-nutcracker-city-ballet.html|title=What Does an Angel See in Her Future? Maybe a Sugarplum Fairy.|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=December 21, 2022}}</ref> ''Stravinsky Violin Concerto'' and ''Episodes'',<ref name=Kourlas/> as well as in Martins' ''The Sleeping Beauty'' (as Lilac Fairy and Diamond),<ref name=Kourlas/> and Wheeldon's ''DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://dancetabs.com/2022/01/new-york-city-ballet-partita-peck-premiere-summerspace-dgv-danse-a-grande-vitesse/|title=New York City Ballet – Partita (Peck premiere), Summerspace, DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse – New York|work=DanceTabs|last=Harss|first=Marina|date=January 29, 2022}}</ref>
In February 2023, the 21-year-old Nadon was named principal dancer, becoming the first Asian American woman to hold this position at NYCB.<ref name=Kourlas>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/26/arts/dance/four-dancers-promoted-at-new-york-city-ballet.html|title=Four Dancers Promoted to Principal at New York City Ballet|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=February 26, 2023}}</ref>
==Awards and honors== In 2022, Nadon received the Princess Grace Award and the Clive Barnes Award for excellence in dance.<ref name=BWW2/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nadon, Mira}} Category:2000s births Category:Living people Category:Entertainers from Boston Category:American ballerinas Category:New York City Ballet principal dancers Category:School of American Ballet alumni Category:Princess Grace Awards winners Category:Dancers from Massachusetts Category:Dancers from California Category:21st-century American ballet dancers Category:21st-century American women Category:American people of Indian descent Category:American dancers of Asian descent