MCBRIDE, PATRICIA

born Aug. 23, 1942, Teaneck, N.J., U.S. American ballerina, best known for her performances with the New York City Ballet. McBride began her dance training when she was seven years old. At age 13 she began classes in New York City with Sonia Doubrovinskaya and at the School of American Ballet, making her debut in 1957 with Andre Eglevsky's Petit Ballet Company. McBride performed with the New York City Ballet as an apprentice, entered the corps de ballet in 1959, became a soloist a year later, and was made principal dancer in 1961. McBride's radiant technique inspired roles in many ballets, perhaps most notably in George Balanchine's Tarantella (1964) and Jewels (1967). Her performance in Who Cares? (1970) was widely acclaimed. Later dances included Dybbuk Variations (1974) and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (1978). After 30 years with the New York City Ballet, she retired in 1989.