Salvatore Aiello, the son of Anthony and Mary Ann Cassella Aiello, was born February 26, 1944 in Herkimer, New York.
1952 Began studying dance at the age of 7 with Chris-Eleanor School of Dance in Herkimer, NY.
Tri-City Ballet Guild, 1959
1959-1961 Performing experiences with the Tri-City Ballet Guild and Northeast Regional Festivals.
1961-1962 Toured Europe with the American Festival Ballet of Rhode Island at the age of 18.
1962-1963 Boston Conservatory School of Music
1963-1965 Joffrey Ballet: First Professional Artist Contract
1965-1970 Harkness Ballet: Charter Member and Soloist Artist
1970-1971 Eglevsky Ballet of Long Island: Principal Artist & Assistant to Andre Eglevsky
1971-1974 Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Principal Artist
1974-1976 Hamburg Ballet: Principal Artist
1976-1978 Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Principal Artist & Ballet Master
1978-1979 Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Associate Director & Guest Choreographer
Gian Carlo Menotti and Salvatore Aiello
1979-1985 North Carolina Dance Theatre: Associate Artistic Director & Resident Choreographer
1985-1995 North Carolina Dance Theatre: Artistic Director & Resident Choreographer
Photo by : Lance Bourque
October 14, 1995 Salvatore Aiello died at the age of 51 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Photo by : Mitchell Kearney
In 1996, Salvatore Aiello (posthumous) was awarded the North Carolina Alliance Award
for outstanding contribution to Dance.
“As a friend of his I shall miss him; as a peer we shall all be poorer for his absence.
We are lucky to have met him. We are lucky to have worked with him.
Let us all honor his memory by continuing to create good work in the spirit of
dance development, and love to our fellow man."
--Michael Uthoff --October 15, 1995
Documentary of "That's So Sal!" by Stuart Grasberg is available for viewing by DVD request only.