Once described by Mikhail Baryshnikov as “one of the brightest lights in American Ballet Theatre’s history,” Patrick Bissell was also notorious for his troubled personal life, and he died of a drug overdose at the age of 30. He was born in Texas and joined ABT in 1977, soon becoming the youngest dancer to achieve the rank of ABT principal at age 21. The Universal Ballet Company was founded in 1984 by the leader of the Unification Church, Reverend Sun Myung Moon, and directed by the American-born teacher-choreographer Adrienne Dellas. This single appearance opening the 53rd season at Jacob’s Pillow marked the company’s U.S. debut.
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