Popularization of Ballet in America Flashcards
John Durang
One of most important dancers during the 1700’s
Known for his hornpipe dance
4 Ballet Stars during the 1800’s
Mary Ann Lee
Julia Turnbull
Augusta Maywood–influenced musical theater
George Washington Smith (partnered with Essler on tour to America)
The Black Crook
First real musical ever made - 1866
Story about a pact with the devil
Very successful, toured
Local dancers were hired for chorus
Lack of American ballet companies in 1800’s because…
Ballet considered insubstantial by regular theatre goers
Ballet was considered a foreign art
No permanent companies–standards of ballet varied from city to city
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
The foreign rival to American ballet in the 1930’s
Founded in 1932
Presented old favorites from Diaghilev and new works by Massine
Made up of some Ballet Russe dancers plus 3 baby ballerinas
Factions split off from the company because 1. Neither founder had skills of Diaghilev 2. Fights over legal rights to the ballet
Companies after Ballet Russe
- Original Ballet Russe
-De Basil’s company - Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
-directed by Sergei Denham
-Massine choreographed for it
-did symphonic ballets
-loved by America
»>Both companies helped spread ballet in America
Lincoln Kirstein
The American “Diaghilev”
–novelist, poet, critic–NOT a dancer/choreographer
Wanted an American ballet company/school with American dancers/style
1933 persuaded Balanchine to direct
1934 School of American Ballet opened in Manhattan
Serenade
Piece inspired by Balanchine
Used dancers’ mistakes (a fall, late entrance)
1st season in 1935
On Your Toes
Balanchine piece, choreographed for Broadway
Stars & Stripes
Famous Balanchine piece in America
New York City Ballet
Founded in 1933 when Kirstein and Edward M Warburg persuaded Balanchine to come to America to direct
First season in 1935, under American Ballet
Repertoire was small but some inspired works by Balanchine
Struggled between being too foreign and not foreign enough
American Ballet Theatre
Founded in 1939 as Ballet Theatre–from the Mordkin Ballet
Est. to present the classics as well as new works by Mordkin in Russian style
1st director was Richard Pleasant
1980 Mikhail Baryshnikov took over as director
Richard Pleasant
The first director of American Ballet Theatre
»wanted the company to be a “museum of dance” with many ex. of periods and styles
In 1945, went active in WWII
Lucia Chase
Became co-director after Pleasant left ABT
|»_space;did the financial side
Oliver Smith
Became co-director after Pleasant left ABT
|»_space;did the set designs
Agnes de Mille
Important to ABT bc of her American subject matter
Choreographed: Rodeo, Fall River Legend, Oklahoma!
Known for doing dream ballets in musicals
Rodeo
Agnes choreo. for Ballet Russe
Music by Aaron Copeland
Ballet about a tomboy cowgirl
Fall River Legend
Agnes choreo. for ABT
Story of Lizzie Borden»killed her family with an ax
Oklahoma!
Agnes choreo. for Broadway
Jerome Robbins
Influenced American style
Most important Native American ballet choreographer
Combines ballet with jazz, Harlem, and Hollywood styles
Combined ethnicity to ballet
Worked with NYC ballet
Fancy Free
1944, ballet about 3 sailors on shore leave during WWII picking up girls
Dances at a Gathering
Work by Robbins
Music by Chopin, plotless
The Cage
Work by Robbins
Story about insects
Afternoon of a Faun
Work by Robbins
Was revised to portray the 2 figures as dancers
Joffrey Ballet
Founded by Robert Joffrey in 1956
Trendy/topical ballets and timeless pieces
Dance Theatre of Harlem
Founded by Arthur Mitchell in 1968
To demonstrate that blacks were capable of excelling in classical ballet
Done new works and timeless pieces
Arthur Mitchell
Was a leading dancer for NYCB
Founded Dance Theatre of Harlem
Wanted to make aware that blacks were capable of ballet
Maria Tallchief
Considered America’s first prima ballerina–also first Native American
Danced at Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo w. Balanchine
First star of NYCB
Star role in Firebird
Jaques d’Amboise
Principal dancer for NYCB
Balanchine created works for him
Founded National Dance Institute in 1976
Suzanne Farrell
Famous 20th century ballerina
Referred to as greatest American lyric ballerina
Was paired with d’Amboise
Lead in Balanchine’s Jewels
Principal dancer in Agon with Arthur Mitchell
Balanchine created lead roles for her, she was paired with Peter Martins a lot
Royal Ballet
Found in 1956 for Britain
Founded to provide outgrowth of a real community theatre movement
First director was Ninette de Valois»well organized, firm and prim
Ninette de Valois
First director of Royal Ballet
Well organized, firm, and prim
Fredrick Ashton
Quinteseential English choreographer
Tender and gracious works reveal much about the English temperament
Created serene abstractions (Symphonic Variations), scintillating ones, bittersweet romantic dance dramas and fantasies
One of the century’s leading choreographers
Developed the lyricism of his dancers
Antony Tudor
Choreo. for the Ballet Club
Moved to American in 1939 to be in 1st season of Ballet Theatre
Margot Fonteyn
A musical dancer with exquisite line
Was England’s leading ballerina from 1930s to 1970s
Bolshoi
State supported school in Moscow, Russia
Means ‘big’
Accused of being crudely flamboyant
Kirov
Formerly the Maryinsky
In St. Petersburg
Too coldly academic
