R. Michael Steele

1941 - 2011

SARATOGA SPRINGS - R. Michael Steele, 69, died suddenly Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, while living at home.
Michael was born July 22, 1941, in Roanoke, Va.. During his grade school years, Michael began the study of ballet to expend his excess energy. This blossomed into the focus of Michael's life. He received a scholarship to the School of American Ballet at age 18, and then joined the New York City Ballet, where he was trained by George Balanchine and danced numerous roles as a soloist. He later joined the Cologne Opera House in West Germany as principal dancer and then the Hamburg State Opera Ballet.
While with the New York City Ballet, one of Michael's performances was at the opening of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. He developed a love for Saratoga Springs during the summer residencies, and when he retired from performing he opened a professional-quality ballet school in Saratoga Springs in 1979 with his then-partner, Tomislav Vukovich. The school, the Ballet Regent School, was initially located in a leased space above The Metro on Saratoga's old Maple Avenue.
Later, Ballet Regent was moved to Woodlawn Avenue, and then was eventually moved to a permanent facility that was purchased on Jumel Place. The opening of the school on Jumel Place fulfilled a lifelong dream of Michael's, to provide an educational facility that would support all of the arts. Michael retired from teaching ballet in 2006, but maintained his school as an arts building. His legacy is the school, which will continue to operate as an arts facility.
Throughout his years at Ballet Regent, Michael proved to be a gifted ballet teacher who passed on his love for the art of ballet and the discipline and hard work required to pursue ballet professionally. Consequently, his survivors include the hundreds of beautiful young ladies and fine young gentlemen who learned much about the beauty, grace and commitment of ballet and life while students of the Ballet Regent School. He was much loved by all who knew him.
An open house to celebrate Michael's life will be held between 4 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, at the Ballet Regent School. The school is located at 27 Jumel Place, Saratoga Springs. Light refreshments will be served.
Please R.S.V.P. by calling (518) 226-0822 and leaving a message; or by e-mailing bdewitt001@nycap.rr.com.
In lieu of flowers, please provide contributions in memory of R. Michael Steele to The New York City Ballet 2011 Summer Residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, in Saratoga Springs.