New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1933 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein with musical director Leon Barzin. The company grew from an earlier troupe known as the Ballet Society.[1][2]
History
New York City Ballet was the brain-child of Lincoln Kirstein, a writer, art connoisseur, and cultural figure in New York City in the '30s. He was famous less for his own artistic achievement than for his social influence. He envisioned an American ballet where young native dancers could be trained and schooled under the guidance of the world's greatest ballet masters to perform a new, modern repertory. Before then, American audiences relied on touring groups of imported artists for ballet performances.
When Kirstein met George Balanchine, noted Russian dancer-choreographer, in London in 1933, Kirstein knew he had found the right person for collaboration on the dream of creating an official American ballet. Balanchine had been classically trained at the Imperial School of Ballet in St. Petersburg since age 10. Also a student at the Petrograd Conservatory of Music during this time, he studied piano and composition. At 20 years old, Balanchine left a newly-formed Soviet Union for the West. Shortly thereafter, Sergei Diaghilev invited the young choreographer to join his Monte Carlo-based Ballets Russes. He remained there for nine years. But, in 1933, he launched out into the deep. He accepted Kirstein's invitation to come to America to start the school which was to serve as the incubator of their American ballet.
The intervening years, however, were not without incident and frustrations. The school's first performance was postponed due to rain, and the initial tour of the newly-formed American Ballet met an untimely end with the simultaneous collapse of both its manager and exchequer. A three-year period at the Metropolitan Opera as its official ballet company ended in disagreements. Several ballet companies were created and dissolved. Efforts ceased temporarily during World War II. Kirstein served in the Army while Balanchine returned to the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo as choreographer. During this period, only the survival of the school gave any indication that Kirstein's American ballet dream was still alive.
A Dream Realized Following the war, Kirstein and Balanchine formed Ballet Society and presented their new company at New York's City Center for Music and Drama. Morton Baum, then chairman of City Center's Finance Committee, was impressed by the quality of what he had seen at one of the performances and approached Kirstein with the suggestion that he transform the ensemble into a New York City Ballet. Kirstein, with his dream in sight, made Baum a promise – that in return for his faith, he would give New York City the finest ballet company in America within three years.
Success In 1948, Balanchine invited the 30-year-old Jerome Robbins to join the nascent company as Assistant Artistic Director. After performing at the City Center for Music and Drama, the company now performs for 23 weeks of the year in the magnificent $30 million, Philip Johnson-designed New York State Theater, built by the City and State of New York. New York City Ballet opened the theater on April 24, 1964, and has since been its resident ballet company. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center has been New York City Ballet's permanent annual summer home since 1966.
Among more than two score international engagements, the New York City Ballet has made numerous appearances in the capitals of Europe. The company has also appeared in Australia, Brazil, Japan, Sicily, South Korea and Taiwan and has made three historic trips to Russia as well as visits to many of the major cities of the United States and Canada.
The name was changed on the occasion of becoming the resident company of City Center of Music and Drama in 1948. On April 20, 1964, the Company moved into the New York State Theater, designed by Philip Johnson, to the specifications of Mr. Balanchine. New York City Ballet went on to become the first ballet company in the United States to have two permanent venue engagements: one at Lincoln Center's New York State Theater on 63rd Street in Manhattan, and another at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, in Saratoga Springs, NY. School of American Ballet is the associated school of New York City Ballet.
After the move to the State Theater, the repertory became dominated by the works of Balanchine, who remained its balletmaster until his death in 1983, but his works were complemented by those of choreographer Jerome Robbins, who resumed his connection with the company in 1969. City Ballet, as it is commonly known, or NYCB, still has the largest repertoire by far of any American ballet company, often staging 60 ballets or more in its winter and spring seasons at Lincoln Center each year and 20 or more in its summer season in Saratoga Springs. City Ballet has performed The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream and many more. City Ballet has featured many great performers since its formation, including:
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Present
Currently, the company comprises approximately 90 dancers, making it the largest dance organization in America. It has an active repertory of over 150 works, principally choreographed by Balanchine, Robbins and Peter Martins. The School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet, is thriving in its spacious home in The Samuel B. & David Rose Building at Lincoln Center with an enrollment of over 350 aspiring dancers from nearly every state in the nation and around the world.
Following Balanchine's death in 1983, Robbins and Martins shared the title of Ballet Master in Chief overseeing the operation of the New York City Ballet. Since 1990, Martins has had sole responsibility for the company's operations. In 2001, Christopher Wheeldon was named Resident Choreographer of New York City Ballet. He is the first person to hold this title.
George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein shaped the history of 20th -century dance. Under the direction of Peter Martins, New York City Ballet remains dedicated to the preservation of Balanchine's ideals.
Ballet Master in Chief
Peter Martins, [3] who first danced with City Ballet in 1967 joined the company as a principal dancer in 1970. In 1981 Mr. Martins was named ballet master, a title he shared with George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and John Taras.
Mr. Martins served as co-ballet master in chief with Jerome Robbins from 1983 to 1989 and assumed sole directorship of the company in 1990.
Principal Dancers
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Repertory
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ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- ↑ Raucher, Laura. "Kirstein 100: A Tribute Online Exhibition." New York City Ballet Archives, "American Ballet Caravan was a precursor company to New York City Ballet. . . . After the war, Balanchine and Kirstein founded Ballet Society in 1946, which was renamed the New York City Ballet in 1948." www.nycballet.com Retrieved November 21, 2007.
- ↑ Wood, Jane Philbin. "Memories of Ballet Society and choreographer George Balanchine". Dance Magazine, November 1998. findarticles.com Retrieved November 21, 2007.
- ↑ Peter Martins' bio. on New York City Ballet website www.nycballet.com Retrieved november 21, 2007.
- ↑ Sofiane Sylve website www.sofsylve.com Retrieved November 21, 2007.
External links
Retrieved November 21, 2007.
- New York City Ballet homepage 2007 winter gala info www.nycballet.com
- NEW YORK CITY BALLET WORKOUTby Richard Blanshard www.palmpictures.com
- New York City Ballet website 2008 winter repertory info. www.nycballet.com
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