Born in New York, David Richardson received his first ballet training at the Ballet Russe de
Monte Carlo School and as a scholarship student at the School of American Ballet. Prior to joining New York City
Ballet, he danced for two years with American Ballet Theatre where he first worked with Mr. Tudor appearing in
Jardin aux Lilacs.
As a member of New York City Ballet from 1963-1983 , Richardson appeared in over 70 ballets, including principal
roles in such diverse ballets as Jerome Robbins' The Goldberg Variations, George Balanchine's The Four Temperaments,
Firebird, and Episodes, and Antony Tudor's Dim Lustre. In addition to dancing with the company, Richardson chose
and trained the many children who appeared in numerous New York City Ballet productions.
Richardson was a Ballet Master with American Ballet Theatre from 1983-1996 and was appointed Assistant Artistic
Director of American Ballet Theatre from 1996-2001.
Richardson mounted and staged Robbins' Circus Polka for The Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Danish
Ballet and The San Francisco Ballet, Balanchine's Le Tombeau de Couperin for The Paris Opera Ballet, the Balanchine/Danilova
Coppelia for the Asami Maid Ballet Company in Tokyo, : Clark Tippet's Bruch Violin Concerto No.1 for the Scottish
Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin, and Fundacion Angel Corella Spain, James Kudelka's Cruel World for
the National Ballet of Canada and his Gazebo Dances for the National Ballet School in Toronto. He also staged performances
of Balanchine's The Nutcracker for Stamford City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and
the Miami City Ballet.
As a Ballet Master at American Ballet Theatre Richardson rehearsed with Mr. Tudor on both Leaves are Fading and
Dim Lustre. Later he staged Leaves are Fading for American Ballet Theatre, Star Dances Ballet Tokyo, and The Lithuanian
State Ballet, and Dim Lustre for American Ballet Theatre.