Karin Averty

Karin is a French Ballerina whose career is inextricably linked to the Paris Opera Ballet (1973-2005), where she graduated from the school and was promoted in 1983 to the tittle of Premiere Danseuse.

In 1980 Karin received international recognition early in her career when she won the Grand Prix in Junior category at the Varna international Ballet competition.

Under Rudolf Nureyev’s leadership Karin began to perform in 1984 principal roles in his choreographies as in many other master pieces of renown choreographers as such as Ashton, Balanchine, Bournonville, Graham, Forsythe, Lander, Lifar, MacMillan, Neumeier, Robbins, Taylor, Tudor, to name a few.

She was the award winner of The AROP Prize (The Friends of the Paris National Opera) 1985/1986 season.

William Forsythe chose Karin to be in the original cast of Somewhere in the Middle in 1986 and the following year she joined The San Francisco Ballet (1987-88) as a Principal dancer under Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson. She returned to the Paris Opera Ballet but remained a Guest Artist with San Francisco Ballet (1988-89).

In 2003 Karin received the French State Diploma in Dance Education for Ballet and in 2004 Prime Minister of France honored her with the National Merit order as a Chevalier (Knight).

As her final bow with the Paris Opera Ballet in July 2005, Karin danced Juliet in Nureyev’s Romeo and Juliet.

After her active dance career, Karin began to devote herself to teaching and mentoring.

Karin has taught in Korea (National University of Arts in Seoul), Alberta Ballet, Canada (Ballet Mistress & School Faculty), Hong Kong Ballet, Israel (Kibbutz Contemporary Ballet), Japan (Arima Kyoto Ballet Academy).

In 2012 Karin realized one of her dreams and relocated to New York City.

She has taught at a number of well-known ballet companies and dance schools throughout the US among them Juilliard, Alvin Ailey, ABT/JKO, Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet Academy of Dance Chicago, San Francisco Ballet, Ballet West, Kansas City Ballet, The Florida Ballet and many others around the country. She has served as a judge at Varna competition, Youth America Grand Prix and ADC/IBC and coached competitors.

Karin was an ABT/ JKO School Faculty, ABT Studio Company Ballet Mistress, Boston Ballet Guest rehearsal Director and stagged works at JKO School, Boston Ballet School and at Joffrey Ballet Academy of Dance Chicago.

Karin is a Steps on Broadway faculty and teaches open ballet classes on Fridays and Sundays.

Karin Averty is a passionate ballet teacher and coach, and she continues to pass on her experience to the new generation of dancers.