Remembering Ballet Great Violette Verdy

06:04

February 12, 2016

French ballerina Violette Verdy performs in "Giselle" in Paris on October 27, 1972. Violette Verdy, dancer, choreographer and former director of the Opera de Paris and other world-class companies, died in the United States on February 8, 2016 at the age of 82. (Michel Clement/AFP/Getty Images)

Portrait of French dancer Violette Verdy smiling as she lands in Great Britain to appear in the musical 'The Princess' at the Strand Theatre, at London Airport, August 16th 1960. (J. Wilds/Keystone/Getty Images)

French ballerina Violette Verdy died on Monday at the age of 82. She was an acclaimed star of the New York City Ballet, dancing more than 140 ballets with the company during the 1960s and 1970s.

Verdy originated roles in works by legendary choreographers George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. After she retired, she went into teaching and eventually became a professor at Indiana University Bloomington.

In 2011, Verdy judged an international ballet competition in Boston where she spoke with Here & Now producer Lynn Menegon. Today we revisit that conversation.

Guest

Violette Verdy, late ballerina and instructor.

This segment aired on February 12, 2016.