Dance Icon Todd Bolender Dies at 92

By Laura Spencer

Kansas City, MO – A man considered an "icon of dance history," dancer and choreographer Todd Bolender died today (Thursday) at the age of 92. KCUR's Laura Spencer has this report.

The Kansas City Ballet's Artistic Director Emeritus Todd Bolender died yesterday at the age of 92, of complications from a stroke. A choreographer, teacher, director, and dancer, Bolender was a prot g of George Balanchine, and in his later years, preserved Balanchine's work and coached dancers in the roles he created. The Kansas City Ballet's Executive Director Jeff Bentley described Bolender as the North Star for the company. Jeff Bentley: He set the direction, he gave up the compass and the compass was about taste...excellence and the pursuit of perfection. In 2004, the Kansas City Ballet announced its new home would be named the Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity. It's expected to open in 2008.