Jerome Robbins

Question 1

When was Fancy Free?

Answer 1

1944

Question 2

When was The King and I?

Answer 2

1951/56

Question 3

When was West Side Story?

Answer 3

1957/61

Question 4

What influenced Jerome Robbins?

Answer 4

• His sister; he first learnt dancing from his sister Sonya
• Agnes de Mille; he followed her lead in making dance and drama equal. She cast him in her production of ‘3 Virgins and a devil’
• Anthony Tudor- ballet; focussed his work on character and psychology. Robbins was in the corps de ballet of ABT.
• Society at the time; WW2, immigration (his parents were Russian immigrants), youth/ gang culture, social dance styles

Question 5

What were his stylistic features?

Answer 5

• Social dance, ballet, modern and jazz
• Use of latin and asian styles
• Use of American Reality

Question 6

Example of ballet with modern and jazz in his choreography:

Answer 6

In ‘Fancy Free’ (1944) a key motif performed by the male dancers where they perform a deep, grounded plié in second position while the arms draw forwards and upwards in a parallel position, clearly showing a fusion of these styles. Throughout the piece, they also perform a series of tour jetés, pirouettes and fouettés to show his background in ballet as a previous corps de ballet member with American Ballet Theatre.

Question 7

Example of society at the time in his choreography:

Answer 7

In ‘America’ from ‘West Side Story’ (1957/61) Kelly uses a rise in feminism and equality in society as an inspiration for his choreography. For example, throughout the piece, the male and female members of the Sharks reenact a bull fight, chasing each other back and forth along the rooftop, arguing about the life they live in America. The dance ends in a shoulder sit lift, with the women sat on top, which conveys how they have won the argument, and links to a rise in equality in wider society.

Question 8

Example of asian styles in his choreography:

Answer 8

In ‘The King and I’ (1951/56) Robbins uses Asian/ oriental dance styles such as Kabuki theatre and Khon dance. As a loud gong is heard in the accompaniment, the dancers knelt down and stood up in two lines, tremor their hands in unison, which links to the hyperextended fingers and hand gestures traditional to Khon dance.