Suzanne Farrell joined the New York City Ballet (NYCB) in 1961 and was George Balanchine’s great muse early in her career. He created such roles for her as Dulcinea in Don Quixote and many new works, including Jewels, Vienna Waltzes, and Chaconne (depicted here).

Peter Martins joined NYCB in 1969 and became an inspired partner for Farrell. One critic wrote that they were “perfect instruments for . . . Balanchine’s choreographic testing of the dance.” Martins once said that dancing with Farrell made him feel “the steps could only be this way. We were literally dancing the music. I felt like a violin.”

Farrell retired after more than 2,000 performances with NYCB and founded the Suzanne Farrell Ballet in 2000. Following Balanchine’s death in 1983, Martins became co-director of NYCB with Jerome Robbins. He has been sole director there since 1990.