New York City Ballet (
NYCB) is a
ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer
George Balanchine and
Lincoln Kirstein 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, 1934; the
American Ballet, 1935, and Ballet Caravan, 1936, which merged into
American Ballet Caravan, 1941; and directly from the Ballet Society, 1946.
History
The company was named New York City Ballet when it became resident at
City Center of Music and Drama in 1948. 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:
balletmaster in chief
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
thumb|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.
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.
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
A major component of the Sping 2008 season was a celebration of Jerome Robbins.
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. This program was supervised by principal dancer, Jenifer Ringer.
thumb|Metropolitan Opera./" class="wiki">Peter Martins at the opening night of the 2009
Metropolitan Opera.
Fourth Ring Society and Talks
Fourth Ring Society
City Ballet's 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 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. 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
Balletmasters
Assistant to the balletmaster in chief
Teaching associate
Children's balletmaster
Dancers
- Stephen Hanna
[guest artist]
Former dancers
Former principal dancers
Former soloists
- Jennifer Tinsley-Williams
Former corps de ballet
See also
