Portrait of Nicholas Magallanes (1922-1977)

Pavel Tchelitchew is credited with discovering Nicholas Magellanes who subsequently became a great artistic force of the New York City Ballet from the moment of the company's inception in 1948 until the dancer's last performance in 1976. Tchelitchew introduced him to George Balanchine, the director of the School of American Ballet with whom he had become acquainted from his collaboration with the Ballets Russes and to Lincoln Kirstein, an art impressario and co-founder of the NYCB. Balanchine cast Magallenes in numerous roles, including Orpheus (1948), La Valse (1951), and Episodes (1959).