The former head of New York City Ballet quietly collected more than $2.8 million over four years from the renowned dance organization after it forced him out amid a flurry of misconduct allegations, records show.
Peter Martins, who resigned as the organization’s ballet master in chief in January 2018 in the wake of sexual harassment and physical and verbal abuse allegations, received $975,273 for 12-month period ending June 2019, including $5,250 for “choreographic royalties/fees,” according to tax documents.
The next year, ending June 2020, he earned $626,625, with $2,625 for choreographic royalties and fees.
The former leader also received $624,000 windfalls from NYCB in years ending June 2021 and June 2022 for services including “choreographer, etc.”
Excluding the year ending June 2021, Martins earned more than anyone else employed by NYCB since resigning, according to the tax documents.
The Post could not confirm what additional work, if any, Martins has performed for the organization.
An investigation commissioned by the organization did not corroborate the various allegations made against Martins by current and former dancers to the New York Times and the Washington Post in 2017.
These included claims that he slammed former principal dancer Heather Watts against a cement wall; shook, choked and screamed at dancer Kelly Boal; and raised his fist against another unnamed dancer.
An anonymous letter also made vague allegations of sexual harassment against Martins at NYCB and its associated School of American Ballet, where he served as its artistic director and chairman of the faculty.
In his retirement letter to the board, Martins denied the various misconduct allegations.
“I have denied, and continue to deny, that I have engaged in any such misconduct,” he wrote at the time.
In the years since his departure, New York City Ballet has put on Martins’ adaptations of “Swan Lake” and “The Sleeping Beauty,” among others.
John Clifford, a former NYCB principal dancer who witnessed the Watts assault, said that Martins should receive royalty payments any time the organization puts on his productions, which may require some of his artistic input depending on the contract, but the amounts he is receiving still seems over the top.
“The amount they’re paying him, if it’s just for royalties, is unheard of,” Clifford said. “Not even Balanchine ever received royalties like this.”
The millions funneled to Martins after his departure in disgrace has left current and former dancers outraged.
“Anybody who has [allegedly] committed sexual assault and is still getting paid by company that they did it in, it’s atrocious they’re getting paid at all and they’re still affiliated,” said a veteran NYCB dancer, who noted Martins has not taught classes or entered the studio since leaving.
“New York City Ballet has a history of doing this, and I don’t think anybody has been able to stop them.”
New York City Ballet did not respond to requests for comment. Martins could not be reached for comment.