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Joseph Duell
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Joseph Duell
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Joseph Duell (April 30, 1956 – February 16, 1986) was an American dancer and choreographer for the New York City Ballet. The day after his performance in George Balanchine's Symphony in C, for which he was praised for the elegance of his classical style, Duell jumped from the window of his apartment building on West 77th Street and died in an apparent suicide.[1]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Joseph Duell was born in Dayton, Ohio, the son of a Baptist minister. His upbringing was described as strict, but he and his older brother Daniel were encouraged to follow artistic and expressive pursuits. He learned to play drums and piano while Daniel played flute. Both brothers began taking ballet classes (Joseph at age 7), studying under two well-known teachers in Dayton: Hermine and Josephine Schwarz. Joseph and Daniel were both considered to be very promising, and at age 10, Joseph received a Ford Foundation scholarship to continue his training. At age 15, he was recruited by the School of American Ballet and traveled to New York for their summer session. He stayed as a full-time scholarship student.[2]

Career

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In 1975, Duell followed his brother Daniel in joining the New York City Ballet corps. It was around this time that he began to harbor a "secret competitive feeling" with Daniel, he would confess years later.[2] The intensity of these competitive thoughts and feelings of inadequacy led him to a deep depression, and after a year and a half he dropped out of the company. He later recounted in a New York Times interview, "I couldn't avoid the comparison with Dan and other boys who were physically much more knit ... I hadn't yet worked out who I was and why I was dancing."[2]

However, four months after he dropped out, Duell returned to the company more driven than ever. Apparently having moved past his internal crisis, he and his brother became very close again, and he worked hard to perfect his art. Suki Schorer, a former teacher at the School of American Ballet who worked with him during this period, said of him, "What God gave him to dance with wasn't terrific, but he took it and became a beautiful dancer, performing with a great musical sense."[2]

In 1980, Duell was promoted to soloist, and in 1982 as a choreographer he made his debut with the company, La Creation Du Monde, which was well received by the critics. His dancing career flourished, and in 1984 he was promoted to principal.

Personal life

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According to his close friends and colleagues, Duell was a man of deep thought who approached his art with an obsessive, mechanical, and often frustrated passion. A New York Times interview with his mentor, George Balanchine, described him: "Unlike many young dancers, he was not satisfied to convey beauty and grace; he wanted to pick apart and understand these gauzy concepts. Mr. Duell did not merely want to perform the fifth position in ballet; he wanted to know why the fifth position was central to classical technique."[2]

His friend and fellow dancer, Toni Bentley, said of Joseph, "He was extremely intense and very introverted sometimes - you'd see him thinking, and he wouldn't even see you."[2]

Despite these internal conflicts, he maintained an outward demeanor of a charming, affable and giving young man. Only later would he confess in an interview that he was battling depression and personal demons of high creative standards and long-ago sibling rivalry. It was also later revealed that Duell had been under the care of both a psychologist and a psychiatrist for several years and had been taking an antidepressant medication.[2]

Some friends said they noticed that he seemed more depressed in his last days. An official of the ballet company said, "Everyone was worried about him in the last two weeks. He was terribly overstrung in the last couple of weeks, and he began to talk about being depressed, but he wasn't the type to burden people with his problems."[2]

Death

[edit]

The day before his death, Saturday, February 15, Duell made his final performance in George Balanchine's Symphony in C. That evening he was seen by his brother Daniel, who would later tell the police that he had been feeling dejected, but Daniel "didn't think anything was really wrong," according to Martin Duffy, the investigating detective in the 20th Precinct.[2]

That night, according to fellow dancer Toni Bentley, Duell immersed himself in work. He went to rehearsal and "worked like crazy on 'Who Cares?' the Gershwin ballet." She added, "He hadn't gone and holed himself up. He had many chances to reach out."[2]

The following morning, Sunday, February 16 at around 10 A.M. according to police, Joseph Duell jumped from the fifth-story window of his West 77th Street apartment in Manhattan and died at the scene. No note or explanation was found.[1][2]

Jerome Robbins dedicated his ballet Quiet City, music by Aaron Copland, to Duell's memory.

References

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Joseph Duell

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''Joseph Duell'' was an American ballet dancer and choreographer known for his work as a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, where he was celebrated for his technical precision, elegance, and unwavering dedication to the Balanchine style. Born April 30, 1956, in Dayton, Ohio, Duell studied ballet locally before moving to New York at age 15 to train at the School of American Ballet. He joined the New York City Ballet in 1975, following his older brother Daniel into the company, and after a brief departure returned to rise steadily through the ranks, becoming a soloist in 1980 and principal dancer in 1984. In addition to performing leading roles in works by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, he choreographed several ballets, including ''La Création du Monde'', which entered the New York City Ballet repertory in 1982. Renowned for his extraordinary discipline and pursuit of perfection, Duell maintained a rigorous regimen of diet, exercise, and practice, constantly striving to overcome technical challenges despite his natural gifts. His intensity and commitment earned him admiration within the company, though he privately grappled with insecurity and the relentless pressure to improve. Tragically, Duell died by suicide on February 16, 1986, at the age of 29, after leaping from his Manhattan apartment window the day after a praised performance in Balanchine's ''Symphony in C''. His sudden death profoundly affected the ballet community, serving as a poignant reminder of the hidden struggles behind artistic excellence.

Early life

Birth and family background

Joseph Duell was born on April 30, 1956, in Dayton, Ohio. He was the son of Seth Joseph Duell, an engineer who had previously served as an American Baptist pastor, and Ellen “Kitty” Newton Duell. The family relocated to Dayton in 1954 when Seth accepted a call to start a new church in Page Manor, though he resigned from the pastorate in 1958 and returned to engineering. Duell grew up in Dayton with his older brother Daniel and three sisters, Reine, Amy Jo, and Debbie.

Ballet training and early influences

Joseph Duell began studying ballet locally in Dayton, Ohio, with teachers Hermine Schwarz and Josephine Schwarz. He moved to New York at age 15 to train at the School of American Ballet, the official school affiliated with the New York City Ballet, where he received further training in the style developed by George Balanchine. This education formed the foundation of his technical and artistic development as a dancer. He completed his studies at the school before entering the professional track with the New York City Ballet in 1975.

Career with New York City Ballet

Joining the company and early roles

Joseph Duell joined the New York City Ballet in 1975 as a member of the corps de ballet. He followed his older brother Daniel, who had entered the company earlier. After a brief departure from the company, he returned and continued his career. Before joining, Duell had trained at the School of American Ballet after being recruited along with his brother from Dayton, Ohio, where they studied with teachers Hermine and Josephine Schwarz. Under the tutelage of George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, Duell began his professional career in the corps de ballet. Balanchine had taken notice of him during his student years and continued to offer guidance, advising him to proceed patiently with remarks such as "Slowly, slowly. Don’t rush. You have lots of time." In his initial years with the company, Duell performed as part of the corps de ballet in the New York City Ballet's repertory. He was promoted to soloist in 1980.

Rise to principal dancer

In 1984, Duell achieved the rank of principal dancer, a promotion announced alongside those of Lourdes Lopez and Stephanie Saland, solidifying his position as one of the company's leading male artists. This milestone came as he increasingly assumed more demanding responsibilities and featured prominently in the repertory, underscoring his rapid rise within the Balanchine tradition at New York City Ballet.

Notable performances and roles

Joseph Duell distinguished himself as a principal dancer through his performances in the neoclassical repertory of George Balanchine and the character-driven works of Jerome Robbins, earning praise for his technical clarity, partnering, and expressive range. In Balanchine's Jewels, Duell performed as a principal cavalier in the Emeralds section, where his deportment was described as grave and tender, evoking young poets in their reverent manner. He also danced in The Four Temperaments, performing the Sanguinic duet with Kyra Nichols. In Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Duell partnered Lourdes Lopez in the duet emphasizing pliancy, contributing to what critics termed fine principal dancing in the work's energetic structure. Additional Balanchine roles included Divertimento No. 15, where he partnered Merrill Ashley. Duell's work with Jerome Robbins showcased his versatility in more narrative and rhythmic contexts. He was particularly noted as one of the sailors in Fancy Free, described as the keenest in the New York City Ballet. In The Four Seasons, he danced appropriately languid in the summer episode with Stephanie Saland.

Choreographic work

Joseph Duell demonstrated an early interest in choreography alongside his performing career at New York City Ballet. He created his first ballet, Jubilee, in 1980 for the School of American Ballet's annual workshop performances, at the invitation of George Balanchine. This marked his debut as a choreographer, with the work included on the program's lineup as an invited piece from an NYCB dancer. He went on to choreograph several ballets, including ''La Création du Monde'', which entered the New York City Ballet repertory in 1982. His choreographic contributions, though limited before his death in 1986, showed promise in addition to his performing career.

Film and television appearances

Credits and contributions

Joseph Duell's television credits primarily consist of appearances in dance-focused broadcasts that documented performances by the New York City Ballet. He appeared as a dancer in an episode of the NBC Special Treat series (1976), a dance-related production. Duell also performed as a dancer in the Great Performances: Dance in America episode "Choreography by Balanchine: Part IV" (1979), featuring ballets created by George Balanchine. These televised presentations represent his documented contributions to screen media, allowing wider audiences to view his work in ballet repertory.

Personal life

Personal relationships and challenges

Joseph Duell maintained a complex relationship with his older brother Daniel Duell, also a dancer with the New York City Ballet. Early in his career, Joseph harbored a secret competitive feeling and sibling rivalry toward Daniel. Duell struggled with depression and personal demons stemming from his high creative standards. He received treatment from both a psychologist and a psychiatrist for several years and took antidepressant medication. Friends and colleagues described him as extremely intense, introverted, deeply thoughtful, and obsessive about his art, sometimes to the point of appearing mechanical or frustrated in his passion.

Death

Circumstances and immediate aftermath

Joseph Duell died on February 16, 1986, at the age of 29, the morning after he had given a praised performance in Balanchine's ''Symphony in C'', after jumping from the window of his fifth-floor apartment on West 77th Street in Manhattan in an apparent suicide. A police spokeswoman, Sgt. Diane Kubler, confirmed that Duell jumped from the building that morning and was declared dead at 10:15 a.m. No suicide note was found, according to police reports. New York City Ballet dancers were informed of Duell's death backstage before the matinee performance on February 16. The company replaced the scheduled evening program, which had included "Symphony in C" and "Goldberg Variations," with "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and ballet master-in-chief Peter Martins dedicated the performance to Duell during a curtain speech. In a joint public statement, Lincoln Kirstein (general director), Peter Martins, and Jerome Robbins (ballet masters-in-chief) described the company as "shocked and saddened at the tragic loss of our respected and beloved friend, Joseph Duell," noting that his dedication and commitment to excellence would serve as an ongoing inspiration.

Legacy

Influence and remembrance in ballet

Despite his tragically short career, Joseph Duell is remembered within the ballet world as a highly promising principal dancer and emerging choreographer at the New York City Ballet. Colleagues noted his talent and the potential for greater contributions to the company's repertory. Specific posthumous tributes or honors in ballet appear limited in documented sources, likely due to the brevity of his time as a principal. His legacy endures primarily through recollections of his performances in major works by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, and his own choreographic efforts for the company.

Posthumous recognition

Posthumous recognition Shortly after Joseph Duell's death, his colleague Toni Bentley published a reflective essay in The New York Times describing the profound impact of his loss on the New York City Ballet community. Bentley portrayed Duell's dancing as a lasting testament to the Balanchine ethic and noted that his memory prompted the company to emphasize remembrance as a means to dance better while highlighting that his death underscored the importance of loving life, work, and each other over mere perfection. Duell's choreography received recognition through revivals in the years following his death. His ballet Jubilee! was staged by Leslie Peck for the New York City Ballet's American Music Festival in 1988 and subsequently performed at a School of American Ballet workshop, where it was praised for its sophisticated abstractions of cakewalks and inventive integration of the classical idiom. The work was described as looking even better in the smaller theater setting, with merry and precise performances by the student dancers. No major biographical books, documentaries, or dedicated institutional memorials to Duell appear in available sources. His works and performances continue to be documented in ballet repertory archives and occasional company histories.

References

  1. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-02-18-me-9270-story.html
  2. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/27/arts/reaching-for-perfection-the-life-and-death-of-a-dancer.html
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/17/obituaries/joseph-duell-a-lead-dancer-for-the-new-york-city-ballet.html
  4. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/18/nyregion/the-private-agony-and-death-of-joseph-duell-gifted-dancer.html
  5. https://ysnews.com/old/stories/2008/07/071708_obits.html
  6. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/17/obituaries/joseph-duell-29-dancer-with-city-ballet-is-dead.html
  7. https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/02/17/ballet-star-duell-killed-in-5-story-fall/
  8. https://www.nycballet.com/discover/our-history/new-york-city-ballet-chronology
  9. https://www.nytimes.com/1978/06/19/archives/new-jersey-pages-ballet-jewels-by-balanchine-cubans-perform.html
  10. https://www.nytimes.com/1981/02/06/arts/city-ballet-three-works-that-have-improved-over-the-years.html
  11. https://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/26/arts/city-ballet-a-20-year-celebration.html
  12. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/f3f14650-ba4a-0134-4818-00505686a51c
  13. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1981/06/01/dear-little-girl-and-boy-land
  14. https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/23/arts/city-ballet-balanchine-and-robbins.html
  15. https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/api/collection/EmensCol/id/335/download
  16. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3340097/
  17. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0592561/
  18. https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item?item=T%3A28258
  19. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/02/17/OBITUARIES/4934509000400/
  20. https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/g11c709_gc5
  21. https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/24/arts/review-ballet-from-cakewalks-to-the-classics.html
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