Tom Pazik

Who was Tom Pazik?

Tom Pazik began his dance training in Detroit, Michigan where he studied under Sandra Severo. He continued his training with Leon Danelian, Yurek Lazowski, Michael Maule, Richard Thomas, and Vera Volkova.

Pazik joined the Atlanta Ballet as a principal dancer in 1970. He later became the Atlanta Ballet's associate director and resident choreographer. In 1983, he was appointed artistic director for the Baltimore Ballet. In June 1985, Robert Barnett appointed Pazik to the position of director of the Atlanta School of Ballet and artistic director of the Atlanta Ballet II.

Since he began choreographing in 1974, Pazik created over eighty ballets, including four full length ballets, children's ballets and lecture demonstrations. In 1977, The Metropolitan Opera engaged Pazik to choreograph the ballet sequences for La Traviata and La Favorita for the Opera's 1977-1978 season.