Founding Artistic Director

NJDTE Founding Artistic Director and visionary master teacher, was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. He studied ballet with Alberto Poujanne as a scholarship student at the National Academy of Ballet in Uruguay and then went on to dance with the company. As a performer, Dr. Corvino toured internationally, first as a member of the Jooss Ballet, then as a soloist with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. His favorite roles included Spectre de la Rose, Bluebird and Carnaval. He later joined the Metropolitan Opera Ballet Company and subsequently became Ballet Master. Dr. Corvino credited the following teachers for his training: Anatole Vilzak, Edward Caton, Boris Romanoff, Alexander Gavrilov, Margaret Craske and Antony Tudor. A noted authority on classical technique worldwide, Dr. Corvino’s teaching credits are staggering. On the faculty of the The Juilliard School for 42 years, he also taught at the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School for almost 20 years; he then founded and directed his own school in New York City, the Dance Circle, for 25 years and directed New Jersey Dance Theater Guild for 10 years. Dr. Corvino also served as panelist to the New York State Council on the Arts. At the time of his passing, he was Ballet Master to Pina Bausch/Tanztheater Wuppertal, and when in New York City, he taught master ballet classes at the Wien Center for Dance and Theatre. Dr. Corvino was the recipient of many awards including the 2002 Martha Hill Award for Leadership in Dance. In May 2003, he had the distinction of receiving an Honorary Doctorate from The Juilliard School, and in May 2005, he was awarded the Juilliard Centenniel Medal. Dr. Corvino was a mentor and inspiration to many dancers including Artistic Director Nancy Turano and Rosemary Sabovick-Bleich. NJDTE has established “The Alfredo Corvino Scholarship Fund” in his name for talented students.