American Ballet
Encyclopedia
The American Ballet was the first professional ballet company George Balanchine
created in the United States. The company was founded with the help of Lincoln Kirstein
and Edward Mortimer Morris Warburg
, managed by Alexander Merovitch and populated by students of Kirstein and Balanchine's School of American Ballet
. Having failed to mount a tour, American Ballet began performing at the "Old Met
." After being allowed to stage only 2 dance performances (Orfeo and Eurydice in 1936 and an evening of dances choreographed to the music of Igor Stravinsky
in 1937), Balanchine moved the company to Hollywood in 1938. The company was restarted as the American Ballet Caravan and toured North and South America, although it too folded after several years.
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
created in the United States. The company was founded with the help of Lincoln Kirstein
Lincoln Kirstein
Lincoln Edward Kirstein was an American writer, impresario, art connoisseur, and cultural figure in New York City...
and Edward Mortimer Morris Warburg
Felix M. Warburg
Felix Moritz Warburg was a member of the Warburg banking family of Hamburg, Germany.- Biography :He was a grandson of Moses Marcus Warburg, one of the founders of the bank, M. M. Warburg . Felix Warburg was a partner in Kuhn, Loeb & Co.. He is known as a leading advocate of a Federal Reserve...
, managed by Alexander Merovitch and populated by students of Kirstein and Balanchine's School of American Ballet
School of American Ballet
The School of American Ballet is one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world and is the associate school of the New York City Ballet, a leading international ballet company based at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. The school trains students from the...
. Having failed to mount a tour, American Ballet began performing at the "Old Met
Metropolitan Opera House (39th St)
The Metropolitan Opera House was an opera house located at 1411 Broadway in New York City. Opened in 1883 and demolished in 1967, it was the first home of the Metropolitan Opera Company.-History:...
." After being allowed to stage only 2 dance performances (Orfeo and Eurydice in 1936 and an evening of dances choreographed to the music of Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
in 1937), Balanchine moved the company to Hollywood in 1938. The company was restarted as the American Ballet Caravan and toured North and South America, although it too folded after several years.
External links
- http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0913FB3859107A93C6AB1789D85F418385F9Sunday NY Times, John MartinJohn Martin (dance critic)John Martin became America’s first major dance critic in 1927. Focusing his efforts on propelling the modern dance movement, he greatly influenced the careers of dancers such as Martha Graham...
, February 24, 1935]
- http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40810FD3C5B1B7B93C7AB1783D85F418385F9Sunday NY Times, letter to the editor from Lincoln KirsteinLincoln KirsteinLincoln Edward Kirstein was an American writer, impresario, art connoisseur, and cultural figure in New York City...
, August 25, 1935]