What does one do on their last day as a ballerina? Gillian Murphy jumped off a cliff (gracefully)
July 19, 2025
After a career of nearly three decades, one of America’s most celebrated ballerinas is hanging up her pointe shoes. American Ballet Theatre’s Gillian Murphy joined the company at 17 and is retiring at age 46. Noted for her technical abilities as well as her longevity, Murphy chose to go out with one of the most challenging roles in all of ballet: the dual swan queen role in “Swan Lake.” She performed for a cheering crowd Friday night at the Metropolitan Opera House, where fellow dancers feted her onstage afterwards in a blur of bouquets, hugs and glittery confetti.
