Exam 3 Flashcards
George Balanchine
NYC Ballet’s repertory is dominated by his choreography- created the company’s style
Distorted the classical technique using contemporary music- unexpected shifts of weight and energy- his choreography is American in spirit
His work was neoclassical- simple spacing, speed
Emphasized women- liked long legs and thin body
Costumes and sets were simple
Best known for his plot less ballets
The Prodigal Son
One of Balanchine’s two surviving works from the Ballet Russes
Composed by Prokofiev
Apollo
Part of Balanchine’s famous Greek Trilogy
Composed by Stravinsky
One of Balanchine’s two surviving works from the Ballet Russes
Orpheus
Part of Balanchine’s famous Greek Trilogy
Agon
Part of Balanchine’s famous Greek Trilogy
John Durang
Most important dancer in the 1700s
Know for his hornpipe dance
Mary Ann Lee
One of four major ballet stars in 1800s
Julia Turnbull
One of four major ballet stars in1800s
Augusta Maywood
One of four major ballet stars in1800s
Influenced musical theater
George Washington Smith
One of four major ballet stars in1800s
Partnered Elssler on her tour to America
The Black Crook
1866
story about a pact with the devil
success prompted many copies which toured
local dancers were hired for the chorus
had to be trained quickly, simple steps/patterns
Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo
The foreign rival to American ballet during the 1930s
Founded in 1932 by Rene Blum and Colonel Wassili de Basil
Presented old favorites by Diaghilev & new works by Massine
Was made up of some of the Ballet Russes dancers plus three baby ballerinas
Factions split off from company because neither founder had the skills of Diaghilev and fights over legal rights to ballets became an issue
After Diaghilev died, it split into 2 companies:
De Basil’s Original Ballet Russe
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo- directed by Sergei Denham and choreographer Massine, loved by America
Both companies spread ballet in America but also contributed to the idea that ballet was foreign (foreign names)
Lincoln Kirstein
Known as the American Diaghilev
Novelist, poet, critic- not a dancer or choreographer
Wanted an American ballet company/school with American dancers and American style
Founded NYC Ballet
Serenade
Part of the NYC Ballet repertoire
Choreographed by Balanchine
Used dancers’ mistakes, a fall or a late entrance
On Your Toes
Broadway show choreographed by Balanchine
Stars & Stripes
Classic American ballet choreographed by Balanchine
New York City Ballet
In 1933 Lincoln Kirstein and Edward MM Warburg persuaded Balanchine to come to US to direct
School of American Ballet opened in 1933
Went through many name changed before NYC Ballet
Early performance were not well received by NY Times- said works were not American enough
Kirstein continued as general director after Balanchine’s death in 1983
Peter Martins and Jerome Robbins became ballet masters
American Ballet Theatre
Founded in 1939 as Ballet Theatre, as an outgrowth of the Mordkin Ballet
Established to present the classics and new works by Mordkin in the Russian style
Richard Pleasant
First director of American Ballet Theatre
Wanted the company to be a “museum of dance” with many examples of periods and styles
Lucia Chase
American dancer and wealthy widow
Cofounded Ballet Theatre in 1940 with Kirstein
Became sole director after Pleasant resigned in second season
Oliver Smith
Scenic designer who supported the emergence of American ballet
Became co director of Ballet Theatre with Chase in 1945 until 1980
Did scenic design for Rodeo and Fancy Free
Also designed for Broadway and film
Agnes de Mille
Was important to American ballet because of her American subject matter
Rodeo
Choreographed by Agnes de Mille in 1942 for Ballet Russe
Music by Aaron Copland
Ballet about a tomboy cowgirl
Fall River Legend
Choreographed by Agnes de Mille for ABT
Story of Lizzie Borden
Oklahoma!
Choreographed by Agnes de Mille
Most know for the dream ballet
Jerome Robbins
Greatly influenced the American style
Was THE MOST important native/American ballet choreographer
His ballets treat the dancers as people who interact intimately with one another and the audience and portray real emotions