Villella became a member of the New York City Ballet in 1957, rising to soloist in 1958 and principal dancer in 1960, last dancing there in 1979.

During the 1960s he and his dancing partner Patricia McBride, who starred together in a 1965 television version of The Nutcracker, appeared often on The Ed Sullivan Show.

[7] He was named founding artistic director of Miami City Ballet in 1985[8] and served in that role until 2012.

[9] Villella and his wife Linda Carbonetto, a former Olympic figure skater, married in April 1981.

Villella also has a son, Roddy, with his first wife, former New York City Ballet dancer Janet Greschler, to whom he was married from 1962 to November 1980.