Heather Watts (born in Long Beach, California, in 1953) is a retired American prima ballerina and former principal dancer for the New York City Ballet. Watts studied at the School of American Ballet with Stanley Williams, Andre Eglevsky and Aleksandra Danilova. At the invitation of George Balanchine, Watts joined the New York City Ballet in 1970, and became a soloist and then principal dancer in 1979. Noted for her dramatic intensity and elevation, Watts premiered many roles during her tenure with NYCB, such as Balanchine's Walpurgisnacht Ballet (1980) and Davidsbündertänze (1980), Robbins' Four Seasons (1979), Piano Pieces (1981), Four Chamber Works (1982) and Tango (1983), and Martins' Calcium Light Night (1977) and Fearful Symmetries (1990). She also starred in prinicipal roles in a number of Balanchine's works, including Agon, Concerto Barocco, Apollo, Rubies, and Serenade. After retiring from the stage in 1995, Watts continued her career as a contributing editor for Vanity Fair and a ballet and dance history instructor at Harvard University. Among the awards Watts has received are the Dance Magazine Award, the L’Oreal Shining Star Award, the New York Public Library Lions of the Performing Arts Award and various state awards for education.
