Maria Calegari was a world renowned principal ballerina with the New York City Ballet from 1974-1994 working extensively with choreographers George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. Since 1997 she has been a teacher for the George Balanchine and Robbins Rights Trusts staging their ballets to companies worldwide, often with her husband Bart Cook. A long time student of the Ageless Wisdom Teachings and the Arcane School she has written several articles for publication on the arts in The Beacon, Lucis Trust, NY and the Diamond Light Newsletter, Aquarian Age Community. Ms. Calegari is President and Co-founder of the Apollo Arts Initiative Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to fostering cultural enrichment and wellness within the individual and the community. She also serves as an NGO representative at the United Nations for the Aquarian Age Community. Maria is an avid watercolor artist and has exhibited her work at local juried shows and private collections. She is listed in Who’s Who of American Women since 1995.

Watch Serenade by George Balanchine with Maria Calegari and New York City Ballet.

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Bart Cook is a highly regarded dance professional as a former principal dancer and ballet master with the New York City Ballet from 1971-1993 and he currently stage ballets for the George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins Trusts worldwide to such companies as Paris Opera Ballet, Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and the Tbilisi State Ballet in Georgia. He has appeared numerous times on public television in Dance in America, Live from Lincoln Center, and American Masters. He has studied the Ageless Wisdom Teachings and Esoteric Astrology for over 30 years and is Vice-President and Co-Founder of the Apollo Arts Initiative Foundation.

Bart is a master stained glass maker and his work has appeared in public and private collections.

Watch Four Temperaments by George Balanchine with Bart Cook and New York City Ballet.