Internationally known for roles
ranging from Virtuoso to Comic,

New York native Leon Danielian made
his debut with the Mordkin Ballet.

Having studied with Mikhail Mordkin,
Michel Fokine, Antony Tudor,

and Igor Schwezoff.

He joined Ballet Theatre as a 
charter member in 1939

and become a premier danseur with
the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo

in 1943, where he met
Igor Youskevitch.

His roles included works by
Michel Fokine, Léonide Massine,

Eugene Loring,
and George Balanchine.

He danced Massine's famous
role of the Peruvian

in the choreographer's
<i>Gay Parisian</i>.

A guest artist with Les Ballets
de Champs-Élysées

and the San Francisco Ballet,

he went on the direct the 
American Ballet Theatre School

in 1967 to '80

and he also taught at the
New York Conservatory of Dance.

He gave a Master Class at the
Dance Celebration

and the next year, he became head
of UT's dance program in 1983,

succeeding Igor Youskevitch.

He was then named professor emeritus
for his remaining years.