Ballet Star Leaps to His Death in N.Y.
Joseph Duell, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet company, leaped five stories to his death from his Manhattan apartment, police said.
The body of the 29-year-old dancer was found outside his West Side apartment building on Sunday morning, police spokesman Sgt. Diane Kubler said. No note was found, she said.
Duell, who joined the ballet in 1975, was one of 18 principal dancers in the troupe, said spokeswoman Leslie Bailey. He had been performing with the ballet at Lincoln Center in a run that ends this week.
The New York Times reported that Duell “had danced with special polish and verve” on Saturday in George Balanchine’s “Symphony in C” and was to repeat the performance Sunday night.
Another ballet was performed instead, and the ballet company dedicated the performance to Duell.
Duell was born in Dayton, Ohio, and studied ballet there before following his brother, Daniel, into the New York City Ballet. He was promoted to soloist in 1980 and principal in 1984. In addition to dancing, he choreographed several ballets.
He is survived by his parents, his brother and three sisters.
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