# Wilhelm Burmann
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{{Short description|German dancer, ballet master, and teacher (1939–2020)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Wilhelm Burmann
| image = Wilhelm Burmann.jpeg
| alt = Burmann, standing in a ballet position with an outstretched arm
| caption = Burmann teaching in 2006
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1939|04|03}}
| birth_place = [Oberhausen](/source/Oberhausen), [North Rhine-Westphalia](/source/North_Rhine-Westphalia), [Germany](/source/Germany)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|03|30|1939|04|03}}
| death_place = [New York City](/source/New_York_City), [New York](/source/New_York_(state)), [United States](/source/United_States)
| other_names =
| occupation = [Ballet master](/source/Ballet_master), [ballet dancer](/source/ballet_dancer), teacher
| years_active =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| partner = [Alfonso Catá](/source/Alfonso_Cat%C3%A1)
}}
'''Wilhelm "Willy" Burmann''' (April 3, 1939 – March 30, 2020) was a German dancer, [ballet master](/source/ballet_master), and teacher.
== Early life ==
Burmann was born on April 3, 1939, in [Oberhausen](/source/Oberhausen), [North Rhine-Westphalia](/source/North_Rhine-Westphalia), [Germany](/source/Germany), where he grew up on a farm.[{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/16/pageoneplus/corrections-april-17-2020.html|title=Corrections: April 17, 2020|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|date=17 April 2020 |access-date=May 25, 2020}}] He had one sister, Christel Weideman.[{{Cite news|last=Chang|first=Richard|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-wilhelm-burmann-idUSKBN21J6B1|title=Wilhelm Burmann, master teacher to ballet stars, dies at 80; tested positive for coronavirus|date=April 1, 2020|work=[Reuters](/source/Reuters)|access-date=April 5, 2020|language=en}}] He began training as a dancer when he was fifteen years old.[{{Cite news|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/04/arts/dance/wilhelm-burmann-dead.html|title=Wilhelm Burmann, Teacher of Ballet's Brightest, Dies at 80|date=April 4, 2020|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|access-date=April 5, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}]
== Career ==
Burmann was a [principal dancer](/source/principal_dancer) for companies including Frankfurt Ballet, [Grand Théâtre du Genève](/source/Grand_Th%C3%A9%C3%A2tre_de_Gen%C3%A8ve), and [Stuttgart Ballet](/source/Stuttgart_Ballet). He also danced with companies including [New York City Ballet](/source/New_York_City_Ballet), [Pennsylvania Ballet](/source/Pennsylvania_Ballet), and [New Jersey Ballet](/source/New_Jersey_Ballet).[{{cite magazine |url=https://www.dance-teacher.com/face-to-face-wilhelm-burmann-2392284829.html |title=Face to Face: Wilhelm Burmann |first=Harris |last=Green |magazine=Dance Teacher |date=February 2009 |access-date=April 10, 2020}}]
Burmann was a ballet master at the [Washington Ballet](/source/The_Washington_Ballet) and the Ballet du Nord.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.stepsnyc.com/faculty/bio/Wilhelm-Burmann/|title=Wilhelm Burmann|date=March 31, 2020|website=Steps on Broadway|access-date=April 5, 2020}}] His teaching style, which was fast-paced and demanding,[{{Cite web|url=https://www.dancemagazine.com/wilhelm-burmann-2645612177.html|title=Remembering Iconic Steps Teacher Wilhelm "Willy" Burmann|last=Stafford|first=Abi|date=April 1, 2020|website=[Dance Magazine](/source/Dance_Magazine)|language=en|access-date=April 5, 2020}}] has been compared to that of [George Balanchine](/source/George_Balanchine), for whom Burmann danced for four years. Burmann was described by ''[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)'' in 2004 as "easily the most revered New York ballet teacher of his era".[{{Cite news|last=Kourlas|first=Gia|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/30/arts/dance-the-drill-sergeant-of-dance.html|title=DANCE; The Drill Sergeant of Dance|date=May 30, 2004|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|access-date=April 5, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}]
Some of Burmann's students included [Alessandra Ferri](/source/Alessandra_Ferri), [Julio Bocca](/source/Julio_Bocca), [Maria Kowroski](/source/Maria_Kowroski), [Wendy Whelan](/source/Wendy_Whelan), [Alexandra Ansanelli](/source/Alexandra_Ansanelli), [Ángel Corella](/source/%C3%81ngel_Corella), and [Michele Wiles](/source/Michele_Wiles).[{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/22/obituaries/alfonso-cata-53-a-dancer-teacher-and-ballet-director.html|title=Alfonso Cata, 53, A Dancer, Teacher And Ballet Director|date=September 22, 1990|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|access-date=April 6, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}]
Burmann began to grow ill in 2018, though he did not ease his teaching schedule. He died on March 30, 2020, in [Mount Sinai West](/source/Mount_Sinai_West) hospital from [renal failure](/source/Kidney_failure), after [COVID-19](/source/Coronavirus_disease_2019) complicated his treatment.