New York City Ballet

New York City Ballet
General Information
Name	New York City Ballet
Previous Names	American Ballet Ballet Caravan American Ballet Caravan The Ballet Society
Year Founded	1948
Founders	George Balanchine Lincoln Kirstein
Founder Choreographers	George Balanchine Jerome Robbins
Location	David H. Koch Theater Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts New York City USA
Website	www.newyorkcityballet.org
Artistic Staff
Ballet Master in Chief	Peter Martins
Ballet Mistress	Rosemary Dunleavy
Musical Director	Fayçal Karoui
Principal Conductor	Maurice Kaplow
Other
Associate Schools	School of American Ballet New York Choreographic Institute
Formation	Principal Dancer Soloist Corps de Ballet
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New York City Ballet (NYCB) is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine ^[1] and Lincoln Kirstein ^[2] with musical director Leon Barzin and with founding choreographers Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. City Ballet grew out of earlier troupes: the Producing Company of the School of American Ballet, ^[3] 1934; the American Ballet, ^[4] 1935, and Ballet Caravan, 1936, which merged into American Ballet Caravan, ^[5] 1941; and directly from the Ballet Society, ^{[6] [7]} 1946.

History

The company was named New York City Ballet when it became resident at City Center of Music and Drama in 1948. ^{[8] [9]} Its success was marked by its move to the New York State Theater, now David H. Koch Theater, designed by Philip Johnson to Balanchine's specifications. 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 David H. Koch Theater on 63rd Street in Manhattan, and another at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, in Saratoga Springs, New York. The School of American Ballet (S.A.B.), which Balanchine founded, is the training school of City Ballet.

After the company's move to the State Theater, Balanchine's creativity as a choreographer flourished. He created works that were the basis of the company's repertory until his death in 1983. His vision influenced dance both across the United States and in Europe. He worked closely with choreographer Jerome Robbins, who resumed his connection with the company in 1969 after having produced works for Broadway.

NYCB still has the largest repertoire by far of any American ballet company, and it often stages 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 trained and developed many great dancers since its formation, including:

Salute to Italy

In 1960 Balanchine mounted City Ballet's Salute to Italy with premieres of Monumentum pro Gesualdo and Variations from Don Sebastian, called the Donizetti Variations since 1961, as well as performances of his La Sonnambula and Lew Christensen's Con Amore.

Stravinsky Festival

David H. Koch Theater.

In 1972 Balanchine offered an eight-day tribute to the composer, his great collaborator, who had died the year before. His programs included twenty-two new works of his own dances, plus works by choreographers Todd Bolender, John Clifford, Lorca Massine, Jerome Robbins, Richard Tanner and John Taras, as well as repertory ballets by Balanchine and Robbins. Balanchine created Symphony in Three Movements, Duo Concertant and Violin Concerto for the occasion. He and Robbins co-choreographed and performed in Pulcinella. Balanchine produced an earlier Stravinsky festival as balletmaster of the American Ballet while engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in 1937. The composer conducted the April 27th premiere of Card Party.

Ravel Festival

In 1975 Balanchine paid his respects to the French composer Maurice Ravel with a two-week Hommage à Ravel. Balanchine, Robbins, Jacques d'Amboise, and Taras made sixteen new ballets for the occasion. Repertory ballets were performed as well. High points included Balanchine's Le Tombeau de Couperin and Robbins' Mother Goose.

Tschaikovsky Festival

In 1981 Balanchine planned a two-week NYCB festival honoring the Russian composer Peter Ilyitch Tschaikovsky. Balanchine, Joseph Duell, d'Amboise, Peter Martins, Robbins and Taras created twelve new dances. In addition to presenting these and repertory ballets, Balanchine re-choreographed his Mozartziana from 1933. Philip Johnson and John Burgee's stage setting of translucent tubing was designed by to be hung and lit in different architectural configurations throughout the entire festival.

Stravinsky Centennial Celebration

In 1982 Balanchine organized a centennial celebration in honor of his long-time collaborator Igor Stravinsky during which twenty-five ballets set to the composer’s music were performed by City Ballet. Balanchine made three new ballets, Tango, Élégie and Persephone, and a new version of Variations. ^[10]

New York State Theater 20-Year Celebration

On April 26, 1984, NYCB celebrated the 20th anniversary of the New York State Theater. The program started with Igor Stravinsky's Fanfare for a New Theater, followed by Stravinsky's arrangement of The Star-Spangled Banner. The ballets included: three of Balanchine's works, Serenade, Stravinsky Violin Concerto, and Sonatine; and Jerome Robbins' Afternoon of a Faun. The performers included Maria Calegari, Kyra Nichols, Heather Watts, Leonid Kozlov, Afshin Mofid, Patricia McBride, Helgi Tomasson, Karin von Aroldingen, Lourdes Lopez, Bart Cook, and Joseph Duell.^[11]

American Music Festival

After Balanchine's death in 1983, Peter Martins was selected as balletmaster of the company. For its 40th anniversary, Martins held an American Music Festival, having commissioned dances from choreographers Laura Dean, Eliot Feld, William Forsythe, Lar Lubovitch and Paul Taylor. He also presented ballets by George Balanchine and Robbins. The programs included world premieres of more than twenty dances. Martins contributed Barber Violin Concerto, Black and White, The Chairman Dances, A Fool for You, Fred and George, Sophisticated Lady, Tanzspiel, Tea-Rose and The Waltz Project.

Jerome Robbins celebration

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A major component of the Sping 2008 season was a celebration of Jerome Robbins.

Dancers' Choice

See also category: New York City Ballet 2008 Dancers' Choice

See also category: New York City Ballet 2009 Dancers' Choice

Friday, June 27, 2008 the Dancers’ Choice benefit was held for the Dancers' Emergency Fund. The program was initiated by Peter Martins, conceived and supervised by principal dancer Jonathan Stafford, assisted by Kyle Froman, Craig Hall, Amanda Hankes, Adam Hendrickson, Ask la Cour, Henry Seth and Daniel Ulbricht, and consisted of:

and excerpts from:

Sunday June 14, 2009 the second Dancers’ Choice benefit was held at a special evening performance, the program included: Sleeping Beauty and Union Jack.^[13][14] This program was supervised by principal dancer, Jenifer Ringer.

Peter Martins at the opening night of the 2009 Metropolitan Opera.

Fourth Ring Society and Talks

Fourth Ring Society

City Ballet's "Fourth Ring Society" offers tickets in the balcony (first two rows excluded) at half price, which at the time of writing is $15. "Membership" is open to the public at large and costs $20 per year. Members may buy one or two tickets to any performance at the David H. Koch Theater the winter months of January, February and March, and spring, April, May and June (performances of The Nutcracker are not included.)

Fourth Ring Talks

Fourth Ring Talks are also called First Position Discussions and are held before some performances; the docents are volunteers and include laymen as well as former dancers.

Present

Balletmaster in chief

Peter Martins, who first danced with City Ballet in 1967 joined the company as a principal dancer in 1970. ^[15] In 1981 he was named balletmaster, a title shared with Balanchine, Robbins and John Taras. Martins served as co-balletmaster in chief with Robbins from 1983 to 1989 and assumed sole directorship of the company in 1990.

Balletmistress

• Rosemary Dunleavy

Balletmasters

Assistant to the balletmaster in chief

• Sean Lavery

Teaching associate

• Merrill Ashley

Children's balletmaster

• Garielle Whittle

Dancers

principal dancers

See also category: New York City Ballet principal dancers

soloists

See also category: New York City Ballet soloists

corps de ballet

See also category: New York City Ballet dancers

Former dancers

Former principal dancers

See also category: New York City Ballet principal dancers

Former soloists

See also category: New York City Ballet soloists

Former corps de ballet

See also category: New York City Ballet dancers ^[18]

See also

References

External links

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