{{short description|American ballet dancer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox dancer | name = Unity Phelan | image = File:Russell Janzen and Unity Phelan in Jewels, Diamonds (2).jpg | alt = | caption = Phelan (right) with Russell Janzen in ''Jewels'', 2017 | birth_name = Unity Sickles Phelan | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1995|02}} | birth_place = Princeton, New Jersey, U.S. | nationality = | citizenship = | education = School of American Ballet<br/>Fordham University | occupation = Ballet dancer | years_active = 2012–present | height = 5 ft 8 in<ref name=Kourlas/> | spouse = {{marriage|Cameron Dieck|2022}} | partner = | children = | website = <!-- {{URL|website}} --> | current_group = New York City Ballet | former_groups = | dances = | module = }} '''Unity Sickles Phelan''' (born February 1995)<ref name=laGorce>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/25/style/unity-phelan-cameron-dieck-wedding.html|title=A Slow Dance Toward a 'Beautifully Intoxicating' Romance|work=New York Times|last=La Gorce|first=Tammy|date=November 25, 2022}}</ref> is an American ballet dancer. She joined the New York City Ballet in 2013 and was promoted to principal dancer in 2021. Outside of the company, she had also danced in the films ''John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum'' (2019) and ''I'm Thinking of Ending Things'' (2020).
==Early life and training== Phelan was born in Princeton, New Jersey.<ref name=corps/> Her father founded a health service company, where he was also the chief executive, and her mother is an international tax consultant and partner at a national public accounting and business advisory firm. Phelan explained that her parents liked the idea of "unity", hence her unusual first name.<ref name=laGorce/>
Phelan started ballet at age four at Princeton Ballet School, following her older sister. At thirteen, she attended the summer program at the School of American Ballet in New York, and was invited to join the year-round program. Her parents thought she was too young, but allowed her to train there full-time the following year.<ref name=laGorce/> She trained at the school for three years.<ref name=corps>{{cite news|url=https://www.pointemagazine.com/issuesaugustseptember-20152015-stars-corps-2412823538.html|title=2015 Stars of the Corps: 10 Dancers Set to Ascend the Ranks|magazine=Pointe Magazine|date=August 3, 2015|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> During this time, she also completed high school at the Professional Children's School, and graduated in 2012.<ref name=laGorce/>
==Career== Phelan became an apprentice with the New York City Ballet in 2012,<ref name=corps/> and joined the corps de ballet the following year.<ref name=soloist/> Roles she danced whilst in the corps de ballet include in Balanchine's "Stairway to Paradise" in ''Who Cares?'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/19/arts/dance/sugarplum-fairies-and-cavaliers-move-ahead-at-city-ballet.html|title=Sugarplum Fairies and Cavaliers Move Ahead at City Ballet|work=New York Times|last=Macaulay|first=Alastair|date=February 19, 2016|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> ''Episodes'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/01/arts/dance/women-fill-new-york-city-ballets-season-with-splendor.html|title=Women Fill New York City Ballet's Season With Splendor|work=New York Times|last=Macaulay|first=Alastair|date=September 30, 2016|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> first pas de trois in ''Agon'' and a demi-soloist in ''Symphony in Three Movements''.<ref name=corps/> In 2015, she made her debut as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Balanchine's ''The Nutcracker''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/24/arts/dance/the-nutcracker-gives-young-dancers-a-spotlight-role.html|title='The Nutcracker' Gives Young Dancers a Spotlight Role|work=New York Times|last=Cooper|first=Michael|date=December 24, 2015|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> In 2016, she was chosen by choreographer Christopher Wheeldon to create a lead role in ''American Rhapsody'',<ref name=watch>{{cite news|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/25-to-watch-2017-2307053099.html|title=Our 25 to Watch for 2017|magazine=Dance Magazine|date=December 29, 2016|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> and by Lauren Lovette in ''For Clara''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/22/arts/dance/review-new-york-city-ballet-fall-fashion-and-ballet-gala.html|title=Review: City Ballet's Gala Evening of Misses ... and a Lot of Skin|work=New York Times|last=Phelan|first=Unity|date=September 22, 2016|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> Later that year, she debuted as Dewdrop in ''The Nutcracker''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/29/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-george-balanchine-the-nutcracker.html|title=Fresh Dewdrops for New York City Ballet's 'Nutcracker'|work=New York Times|last=Macaulay|first=Alastair|date=December 29, 2016|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> The following year, she originated a role in Pontus Lidberg's ''The Shimmering Asphalt''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-ballets-winter-season-review-1485978017|title=New York City Ballet's Winter Season Review|work=Wall Street Journal|last=Greskovic|first=Robert|date=February 1, 2017|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref>
Phelan was promoted to soloist in 2017.<ref name=soloist>{{cite news|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/unity-phelan-2356047939.html|title=The Epiphany That Made Unity Phelan An NYCB Soloist|magazine=Dance Magazine|last=Stamelman|first=Paul|date=April 11, 2017|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> Since then, she has danced featured roles, including in "Emerald" from ''Jewels'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/19/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-jewels.html|title=New York City Ballet Is Back, and the Real Jewels Are the Dancers|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=September 19, 2019|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/31/arts/dance/city-ballet-midsummer-nights-dream.html|title=Some Enchanted Ending: Debuts and Other Spectacular Feats at City Ballet|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=May 31, 2019|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> ''Liebeslieder Walzer'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://dancetabs.com/2019/03/new-york-city-ballet-prodigal-son-liebeslieder-walzer-new-york/|title=New York City Ballet – Prodigal Son, Liebeslieder Walzer – New York|work=DanceTabs|last=Harss|first=Marina|date=March 3, 2019|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> ''Orpheus'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwdance/article/Broadwayworld-Dance-Review-BalanchineStravinsky-at-New-York-City-Ballet-January-24-2019-20190126|title=Broadwayworld Dance Review: Balanchine/Stravinsky at New York City Ballet, January 24, 2019.|work=BroadwayWorld|last=Serchuk|first=Barnett|date=January 26, 2019|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> ''Divertimento No. 15'';<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-company-on-and-off-its-game-1517954334|title=A Company On and Off Its Game|work=Wall Street Journal|last=Greskovic|first=Robert|date=February 6, 2018|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> Robbins' ''Dances at a Gathering'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://dancetabs.com/2019/10/new-york-city-ballet-dances-at-a-gathering-everywhere-we-go-new-york/|title=New York City Ballet – Dances at a Gathering, Everywhere We Go – New York|work=DanceTabs|last=Harss|first=Marina|date=October 6, 2019|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> ''In G Major''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://dancetabs.com/2020/03/new-york-city-ballet-classic-nycb-ii-bill-with-new-peck-new-york/|title=New York City Ballet – Classic NYCB II bill with new Justin Peck – New York|work=DanceTabs|last=Harss|first=Marina|date=March 2, 2020|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> and ''Antique Epigraphs'';<ref>{{cite news|url=https://dancetabs.com/2018/05/new-york-city-ballet-all-robbins-no-4-bill-new-york/|title=New York City Ballet – All Robbins No. 4 bill – New York|work=DanceTabs|last=Harss|first=Marina|date=May 18, 2018|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> Wheeldon's ''Polyphonia''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://dancetabs.com/2017/10/new-york-city-ballet-liturgy-polyphonia-odessa-the-times-are-racing-new-york/|title=New York City Ballet – Liturgy, Polyphonia, Odessa, The Times are Racing – New York|work=danceTabs|last=Harss|first=Marina|date=October 8, 2017|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> and ''DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse'';<ref>{{cite news|url=https://bachtrack.com/review-balanchine-wheeldon-dgv-raymonda-porte-soupir-new-york-city-ballet-september-2019|title=Something for everyone: Balanchine + Wheeldon at New York City Ballet|work=Bachtrack|last=Escoda|first=Carla|date=September 20, 2019|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> and Forsythe's ''Herman Schmermen''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/25/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-21st-century-choreographers.html|title=City Ballet's 21st-Century Choreographers: Some Future Classics, Some Clunkers|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=April 25, 2019|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> She has also created roles in Peck's ''Easy'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://allarts.org/2018/05/paying-tribute-to-jerome-robbins/|title=Paying tribute to Jerome Robbins|work=All Arts|last=Stigler|first=Brett|date=May 10, 2018|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> Lovette's ''The Shaded Line''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/arts/dance/review-new-york-city-ballet-fashion-gala.html|title=Review: At New York City Ballet, an Intriguing Glimpse of the Future|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=September 27, 2019|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> and Ratmansky's ''Voices''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-ratmansky-review.html|title=Review: Alexei Ratmansky Finds a New Voice at City Ballet|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=January 31, 2020|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref>
In 2017, she performed a pas de deux in Balanchine's ''Agon'' with then-American Ballet Theatre soloist Calvin Royal III, with Arthur Mitchell, who originated Royal's role, in the audience. Following the performance, Mitchell commented the ballet was "in good hands."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pointemagazine.com/arthur-mitchell-agon-discrimination-ballet-2492509312.html|title=Arthur Mitchell on "Agon": "My Skin Color Against Hers, It Became Part of the Choreography"|magazine=Pointe Magazine|last=Brandt|first=Amy|date=October 5, 2017|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> The following year, after Mitchell's death, Royal and Phelan reprised the ''Agon'' pas de deux at his memorial.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/arthur-mitchell-2622587525.html|title=Arthur Mitchell's Memorial Was Both A Homegoing & A Homecoming|magazine=Dance Magazine|last=Howard|first=Theresa Ruth|date=December 7, 2018|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> The same year, following the collaboration between New York City Ballet and Puma, she took part in the latter's promotional tour in Asia.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pointemagazine.com/unity-phelan-asia-tour-puma-2558995190.html|title=The Perks of Being a PUMA Brand Ambassador: NYCB's Unity Phelan's Whirlwind Tour to Asia|work=Pointe Magazine|last=Lansky|first=Chava Pearl|date=April 11, 2018|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref>
Phelan appeared in the 2019 film, ''John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum'', as a ballerina who is also training to be an assassin, with the dance sequences choreographed by Tiler Peck.<ref name=Escoyne>{{cite news|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/unity-phelan-john-wick-2637316297.html|title=Who is That Ballerina in the New John Wick Movie?|magazine=Dance Magazine|last=Escoyne|first=Courtney|date=May 16, 2019|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> She then appeared in a dream ballet sequence in the 2020 film, ''I'm Thinking of Ending Things'', choreographed by Peter Walker.<ref name=Schrock>{{cite news|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/im-thinking-of-ending-things-peter-walker-2647424428.html|title=Inside Peter Walker's Dance Scene in I'm Thinking of Ending Things|magazine=Dance Magazine|last=Schrock|first=Madeline|date=September 5, 2020|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> In 2020, she was featured in a campaign for Gabriela Hearst.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/designers/a33497577/gabriela-hearst-pre-fall-2020-ballet/|title=Top Ballerinas Model Gabriela Hearst's Pre-Fall Collection|magazine=Harper's Bazaar|last=Cohn|first=Alison C.|date=August 3, 2020|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref> Later that year, she danced in Andrea Miller's short film, ''New Song'', which was made for the New York City Ballet.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/02/arts/dance/new-works-festival-new-york-city-ballet.html|title=Dancing on Grass and Concrete at New York City Ballet|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=November 2, 2020|accessdate=March 21, 2021}}</ref>
In 2021, Phelan was promoted to principal dancer. Her promotion came soon after the company return to performing after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as multiple principal dancers' retirements.<ref name=Jacobs>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/07/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-promotions.html|title=City Ballet Promotes Dancers Amid Veteran Departures|work=New York Times|last=Jacobs|first=Julia|date=October 7, 2021}}</ref> Ballets she performed since her promotion include Balanchine's ''Agon'', ''Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux'',{{efn|name=composer|At the New York City Ballet, the composer's last name is spelled "Tschaikovsky" rather than "Tchaikovsky" as he used the former spelling during a visit to New York in 1891.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/26/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-performs-tchaikovsky-balanchine-works.html|title=A Four-Work Leap Into the Forefront of Classical Ballet|work=New York Times|last=Macaulay|first=Alastair|date=September 25, 2014|access-date=March 3, 2022|archive-date=January 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119233821/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/26/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-performs-tchaikovsky-balanchine-works.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}} ''Apollo'' (as Terpsichore), ''Symphony in C'', ''Stravinsky Violin Concerto'', ''Vienna Waltzes'', ''La Sonnambula'' (as the Sleepwalker), ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' (as Titania), ''Swan Lake'', and Robbins' ''Piano Pieces''.<ref name=Kourlas>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/14/arts/dance/unity-phelan-new-york-city-ballet.html|title=What Is the Power of Unity Phelan's Dancing? 'I'm Clay.'|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=October 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{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><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/31/arts/dance/new-york-city-ballet-spring-season.html|title=A Farewell and the Promise of a New Future at City Ballet|work=New York Times|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|date=May 31, 2022}}</ref> In 2022, she originated a role in Roberts' ''Emanon — in Two Movements''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/27/arts/dance/jamar-roberts-new-york-city-ballet.html|title=At City Ballet, Jamar Roberts and Dancers Find a Common Language|work=New York Times|last=Harss|first=Marina|date=January 27, 2022}}</ref> She stars as a ballerina in a fictional New York City ballet company in ''Étoile'', a 2025 television series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino.<ref name="Phillips-2025">{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Zoe G. |date=April 28, 2025 |title=Meet the A-List Ballet Dancers at the Heart of ‘Étoile’ — and the Choreographer Who Hired Them |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/etoile-real-ballet-dancers-choreographer-interview-1236202467/ |access-date=May 8, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Stauffer-2025">{{Cite web |last=Stauffer |first=Rainesford |date=April 24, 2025 |title=What to Know About the Real Life Dancers in 'Étoile' |url=https://time.com/7280035/etoile-ballet-dancers-true-story/ |access-date=May 8, 2025 |website=Time |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== While dancing full-time, Phelan also studied at Fordham University. She graduated in 2020, with a bachelor's degree in economics and organizational leadership.<ref name=laGorce/><ref name=Jacobs/>
In 2022, Phelan married Cameron Dieck, a former New York City Ballet dancer.<ref name=laGorce/> They welcomed their first child, a son, in January 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@unityphelan |date=4 February 2026 |title=2 Becomes 3 🐣 (+🐶) |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DUWKUMekRTD/?img_index=1&igsh=MTR0bDB6eTNjeXRmdA== |access-date=8 April 2026 |website=Instagram}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Ref |- | 2019 | ''John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum'' | Rooney / The Ballerina | <ref name=Escoyne/> |- | 2020 | ''I'm Thinking of Ending Things'' | Dancing Young Woman | <ref name=Schrock/> |- |2025 |''Étoile'' |Julie |<ref name="Phillips-2025" /><ref name="Stauffer-2025" /> |- |}
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|nm7473729}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phelan, Unity}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:People from Princeton, New Jersey Category:American ballerinas Category:New York City Ballet principal dancers Category:School of American Ballet alumni Category:Fordham University alumni Category:Dancers from New Jersey Category:21st-century American ballet dancers Category:21st-century American women Category:American film actresses