New York City Ballet

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See also: NYCB repertory and Category:New York City Ballet Repertory

Logo of the New York City Ballet

New York State Theater

New York City Ballet (often referred to as just City Ballet or by its initials, NYCB) is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein with musical director Leon Barzin. The company 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.^[1]^[2]

[edit] History

The name was changed on the occasion of becoming the resident company of City Center of Music and Drama in 1948. the Company moved into the New York State Theater, designed by Philip Johnson, to the specifications of Mr. Balanchine. New York 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 New York State Theater on 63rd Street in Manhattan, and another at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, in Saratoga Springs, NY. School of American Ballet is the associated school of New York City Ballet.

After the move to the State Theater, the repertory became dominated by the works of Balanchine, who remained its balletmaster until his death in 1983, but his works were complemented by those of choreographer Jerome Robbins, who resumed his connection with the company in 1969. City Ballet still has the largest repertoire by far of any American ballet company, often staging 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 featured many great performers since its formation, including:

Kyra Nichols
Maria Tallchief
Melissa Hayden
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Suzanne Farrell
Tanaquil LeClerq
and Peter Martins, ballet master in chief since 1990.

[edit] Stravinsky Festival

In 1972 Balanchine offers an eight-day tribute to the composer, his great collaborator, who had died the year before. Twenty-two new works by Balanchine, Todd Bolender, John Clifford, Lorca Massine, Jerome Robbins, Richard Tanner and John Taras as well as repertory ballets by Balanchine and Robbins are presented. Balanchine's makes Symphony in Three Movements, Duo Concertant and Violin Concerto for the occasion, and he and Robbins co-choreograph and perform in Pulcinella. Balanchine produced his first Stravinsky festival as ballet master of the American Ballet while engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in 1937; the composer conducted the April 27th premiere of Card Party.

[edit] External links

NY Times review by Clive Barnes June 26, 1972

NY Times review by Clive Barnes June 24, 1972

NY Times article by Anna Kisselgoff June 23, 1972

NY Times review by Clive Barnes June 23, 1972

NY Times review by Clive Barnes June 22, 1972

NY Times review by Clive Barnes June 21, 1972

NY Times article by Anna Kisselgoff June 21, 1972

NY Times review by Clive Barnes June 19, 1972

NY Times article by Anna Kisselgoff June 17, 1972

Sunday NY Times article by John Martin, May 30, 1937

Sunday NY Times article by John Martin, May 2, 1937

NY Times review by John Martin, April 28, 1937

Sunday NY Times article by John Martin, April 25, 1937

[edit] Ravel Festival

In 1975 Balanchine paid his respects to the French composer with a two-week Hommage a Ravel. Jacques d'Amboise, Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and John Taras made sixteen new ballets for the occasion, and repertory ballets were performed as well. High points included Balanchine's Le Tombeau de Couperin and Robbins' Mother Goose.

[edit] External links

NY Times review by Clive Barnes, May 16, 1975

NY Times article by Deirdre Carmody, May 16, 1975

NY Times review by Clive Barnes, May 24, 1975

NY Times review by Clive Barnes, May 31, 1975

[edit] Tschaikovsky Festival

In 1981 City Ballet honored the Russian composer with a two-week Tschaikovsky Festival for which by Jacques d'Amboise, Balanchine, Joseph Duell, Peter Martins, Jerome Robbins and John Taras created twelve new dances. In addition to performances of other 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.

[edit] External links

NY Times review by Anna Kisselgoff, May 13, 1981

NY Times review by Anna Kisselgoff, June 5, 1981

NY Times article by Jennifer Dunning, June 5, 1981

NY Times review by Anna Kisselgoff, June 8, 1981

NY Times review by Anna Kisselgoff, June 11, 1981

NY Times review by Anna Kisselgoff, June 13, 1981

NY Times review by Anna Kisselgoff, June 14, 1981

NY Times article June 16, 1981

[edit] American Music Festival

In 1988, its 40th anniversary, City Ballet held an American Music Festival with commissions from Laura Dean, Eliot Feld, William Forsythe, Lar Lubovitch and Paul Taylor as well as ballets by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, including world premieres of more than twenty dances. Ballet master in chief Peter 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.

[edit] External links

NY Times review by Anna Kisselgoff, May 14, 1988

NY Times article by Anna Kisselgoff, May 22, 1988

[edit] Present

[edit] Ballet Master in Chief

Peter Martins^[3], who first danced with City Ballet in 1967 joined the company as a principal dancer in 1970. In 1981 Mr. Martins was named ballet master, a title he shared with George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and John Taras. Mr. Martins served as co-ballet master in chief with Jerome Robbins from 1983 to 1989 and assumed sole directorship of the company in 1990.