Head of New York City Ballet Charged With DWI Over New Year's

Veteran ballet chief's blood alcohol level not released

Plie … and blow.

The head of the New York City Ballet couldn't dance his way out of an arrest for suspicion of drunken-driving over the holiday weekend, according to a published report.

Cops arrested Peter Martins, the 30-year ballet master of NYCB, after stopping him at a checkpoint in Yonkers on the Saw Miller River Parkway just before 2 a.m. New Year's Day, Westchester police told the Wall Street Journal.

Authorities didn't immediately release Martins' blood alcohol level. The 64-year-old Dane said in a statement through the ballet company that it was a "legal matter" and he was advised not to talk about it.

Police wouldn't elaborate on whether anyone else was in the car with Martins at the time of the bust. More than a dozen people were arrested for DWI at various checkpoints around the area over the weekend.

Martins was a principal dancer with NYCB before taking over the directorship in 1981. Since 1990, he's borne sole responsibility for creativity leadership of the ballet company, and has choreographed more than 80 ballets throughout his tenure.

Cops told the Journal the DWI charge was a misdemeanor because it was Martins' first offense, though he previously was arrested after his wife accused him of assault in 1992. The assault charges were later dropped.

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