Recognizing Martha Chamberlain, one of the Pennsylvania Ballet's principal dancers, on the occasion of her retirement after 21 years with the Company.

WHEREAS, Martha Chamberlain began her dance training at age five at the Fellowship House in Media, Pennsylvania where she was born and raised; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Chamberlain went on to study with Donna Muzio, Paul Klocke and Cherie Noble at West Chester's Dance Center and The School of American Ballet's Summer Program from 1985 to 1988. She is a graduate of Friends Select and The School of Pennsylvania Ballet; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Chamberlain joined Pennsylvania Ballet as an Apprentice in the fall of 1989 and was promoted to the Corps de Ballet three months later. She was promoted to Soloist in 1997 and to Principal after her premiere as Juliet in John Cranko's

Romeo and Juliet

in March 2000; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Ballet is one of the premier ballet companies in the United States and has been at the forefront of American dance since 1963. The Company has earned a national reputation for its impassioned artistry and technical virtuosity and has received widespread critical acclaim for extraordinary performances of a diverse classical and contemporary repertoire with a Balanchine base. The energy and exuberance of its versatile dancers, including Ms. Chamberlain, are the Company's enduring signature; and

WHEREAS, At the Pennsylvania Ballet, Ms. Chamberlain has danced several leading roles including Katherina in

The Taming of the Shrew

, Aurora in

The Sleeping Beauty

, Swanhilda in

Coppélia

, Myrtha in

Giselle

, Dewdrop and Sugarplum Fairy in

George Balanchine's

The Nutcracker,

and Helena and Divertissement pas de deux in

A Midsummer Night's Dream.

She has also had featured roles in George Balanchine's

Ballo della Regina, The Four Temperaments, Agon, Western Symphony, Serenade, Apollo,

and Rubiesfrom

Jewels

; Paul Taylor's

Company B

and

Arden Court

; and Christopher d'Amboise's

Franklin Court

. She has created roles for such choreographers as Trey McIntryre, Kevin O'Day, Jessica Lang, Jeffrey Gribler and Matthew Neenan. She has had the opportunity to dance internationally in Portugal, England, and Germany; and

WHEREAS, Some of Ms. Chamberlain's favorite performances include Kate in “Taming of the Shrew” and Aurora in “Sleeping Beauty;” and

WHEREAS, Ms. Chamberlain has designed costumes for Matthew Neenan's

The Crossed Line, 11:11

,

As It's Going, Keep,

and

At the border

as well as for choreographers such as Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Jorma Elo, Helen Pickett Zane Booker, and Meredith Rainey. Her jewelry has been sold in stores in Philadelphia and New York; and

WHEREAS, After retiring from dancing, Ms. Chamberlain will work on expanding her costume design and dance-wear businesses; and

WHEREAS, After 21 years, Ms. Chamberlain will take her final bows on April 17, 2011 at the Pennsylvania Ballet in a performance of “Who Cares?” now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Recognizes Martha Chamberlain, one of the Pennsylvania Ballet's principal dancers, on the occasion of her retirement after 21 years with the Company.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Martha Chamberlain as evidence of the sincere sentiments and recognition of this legislative body.

End