Full Answer
What did George Balanchine do for ballet?
He gained notoriety as a young choreographer and co-founded the American Ballet. Balanchine was the co-founder, artistic director and chief choreographer of the New York City Ballet, and nearly every ballet company in the world has performed his work.
Who is Balanchine?
Balanchine was the co-founder, artistic director and chief choreographer of the New York City Ballet, and nearly every ballet company in the world has performed his work. Georgy Melitonovich Balanchivadze was born on January 22, 1904, in St. Petersburg, Russia.
When did George Balanchine come to America?
Browse This Section... George Balanchine, who is regarded as the foremost contemporary choreographer in the world of ballet, came to the United States in late 1933 following an early career throughout Europe.
When did George Balanchine create the Ballet Caravan?
In 1941, he and Kirstein assembled the American Ballet Caravan, sponsored by Nelson Rockefeller, which toured South America with such new Balanchine creations as Concerto Barocco and Ballet Imperial (later renamed Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 ).
What is the difference between Balanchine and classical ballet?
0:271:49Difference Between Balanchine & Classical Ballet TechniquesYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe technique of balanchine is so that you can perform his choreography which a lot of the times isMoreThe technique of balanchine is so that you can perform his choreography which a lot of the times is a lot faster. The arms are a little bit more flowery the hands are a little bit more distinct.
What type of ballet is Balanchine?
neoclassical styleWith its open arabesque, deep pliés, and often unique port de bras, the Balanchine method is unmistakable. A Balanchine performance's swaying hips and minimalist costuming speaks to a more modern, neoclassical style of ballet. Some criticize the style, while others praise it for the ingenuity and strength it requires.
What is the difference between Balanchine and Vaganova?
The Vaganova style is notorious for delicate arms, well-set poses, overall danciness and strict logic in the order and possibilities of the dance movements in class. Balanchine style is praised for fastness, sharpness, cleanliness, and phrasing.
What makes Balanchine unique?
Balanchine's Style Balanchine developed a distinct technical style to accommodate his choreography. He stressed precise musical timing, and emphasized phrasing and syncopation in his classes.
What are the 4 types of ballet?
In addition to different training styles (our training is based on the Vaganova style at Les Petits Ballets), there are also different styles of ballets which were dependent on the era in which they were choreographed. These are Romantic, Classical, Neoclassical and Contemporary.
What is the hardest ballet variation?
1. What do you consider the most difficult variation in the female classical repertory?Diana and Acteon. ... La Esmeralda (Tambourine) ... Flames of Paris.Grand Pas Classique. ... Giselle 1st Act.Black Swan.
What makes Russian ballet different?
For example, Russian ballet features high extensions and dynamic turns, whereas Italian ballet tends to be more grounded, with a focus on fast, intricate footwork. Many of the stylistic variations are associated with specific training methods that have been named after their originators.
What is the Russian ballet called?
Bolshoi Ballet, also spelled Bolshoy Ballet, (Russian: “Great Ballet”), leading ballet company of Russia (and the Soviet Union), famous for elaborately staged productions of the classics and children's ballets that preserve the traditions of 19th-century classical dance.
What is the Vaganova method known for?
The Vaganova Method is a style of ballet instruction developed by Russian ballerina Agrippina Vaganova; it involves gradually introducing students to dance techniques that will later be used in performance. Training is progressive and works on building strength and flexibility while minimizing injury.
What are Balanchine hands?
Balanchine wanted his dancers' hands to look round and soft but not to be soft. The inside (the palm) and the back are held curved, rather than being held stiffly flat or being allowed to hang relaxed and straight. They are held by muscles that maintain the shape he wanted.
What is the Balanchine aesthetic?
The Balanchine Technique is also referred to as a "style": "Characteristics of this style include: extreme speed, a deep plié, an emphasis on line, en dehors pirouettes taken from a lunge in fourth position with a straight back leg and an athletic dance quality."
What technique does New York City Ballet use?
Balanchine techniqueBalanchine technique or Balanchine method is the ballet performance style invented by dancer, choreographer, and teacher George Balanchine (1904–1983), and a trademark of the George Balanchine Foundation. It is used widely today in many of Balanchine's choreographic works.
What is the Balanchine technique?
A hallmark of the Balanchine technique is the dancer’s ability to move very quickly. Classes consist of many quick tendu and dégagé combinations at the barre that challenge the dancers’ ability to shift weight and skillfully articulate the feet while maintaining a relaxed upper body. The Balanchine method creates agile dancers who are able to execute difficult petit allegro combinations while still projecting a joyful and uplifting demeanor.
How to do a Balanchine pirouette?
Typically, pirouettes begin from a fourth position with both legs bent, but a Balanchine pirouette begins in a wider fourth with only the front leg bent. This creates more of a lunge position before the beginning of the turn. Having the back leg extended creates a long, diagonal line, and makes the overall movement seem larger. Balanchine arms are larger and more free flowing than other styles. Instead of moving the entire arm as one unit, Balanchine dancers can let their joints bend more in a sort of unraveling motion. Balanchine hands are distinct because the fingers and thumb can be separated instead of creating a slim hand where the fingers are close together.
Is Balanchine dance good?
For dancers who want to work on making the quality of their movements crisp and quick yet still free, the Balanchine style is definitely worth looking into!
Where was the first Balanchine ballet?
The first ballet Balanchine choreographed in this country — Serenade to music by Tschaikovsky — was created as a workshop for students at the School and had its world premiere outdoors on the estate of a friend near White Plains, New York. The Road to Permanence.
What ballets did Balanchine choreograph?
From that time until his death, Balanchine served as artistic director for the New York City Ballet, choreographing (either wholly or in part) the majority of the productions the company has introduced since its inception. Among them were Firebird (1949; restaged with Jerome Robbins, 1970); Bouree Fantasque (1949); La Valse (1951);
How many works did Balanchine create?
A Lifetime on Many Stages. An authoritative catalogue of his works lists 465 works created by Balanchine in his lifetime, beginning with a pas de deux in 1920 (LA NUIT) and ending with a solo, Variations for Orchestra (though he had used the Stravinsky score for a 1966 ballet, this work was entirely re-choreographed), in 1982.
What did Balanchine learn?
He began studying the piano at the age of five and following his graduation in 1921, from the Imperial Ballet School (the St. Petersburg academy where he had started his dance studies at the age of nine), he enrolled in the state's Conservatory of Music, where he studied piano and musical theory , including composition, harmony and counterpoint, for three years. Such extensive musical training made it possible for Balanchine as a choreographer to communicate with a composer of such stature as Igor Stravinsky; the training also gave Balanchine the ability to reduce orchestral scores on the piano, an invaluable aid in translating music into dance.
What was the first Balanchine-Kirstein collaboration?
Balanchine agreed to come to America that very year, and the first product of the Balanchine-Kirstein collaboration was the School of American Ballet, founded in 1934 (the first day of class, in fact, was January 2 of that year). The School remains in operation to this day, training students for the New York City Ballet and companies throughout ...
What was Balanchine's first dance?
Balanchine made his own dancing debut at the age of 10 as a cupid in the Maryinsky Theatre Ballet Company production of The Sleeping Beauty. He joined the company as a member of the corps de ballet at 17 and staged one work for them called Enigmas.
When did the New York City Ballet perform live from Lincoln Center?
In January 1978, the New York City Ballet participated in the acclaimed PBS series "Live from Lincoln Center" for the first time. Coppelia, choreographed by Balanchine and Alexandra Danilova in 1974, was seen live from the stage of the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center. This presentation also netted Balanchine an Emmy.
What ballets did Balanchine create?
^ Balanchine had created ballet sequences for Ravel 's opera L'enfant et les sortilèges with singers of the Monte Carlo Opera and dancers from the Ballets Russes for the 1925 Monte Carlo premiere; this is not however listed as a Ballets Russes production.
Who is George Balanchine?
This is a list of ballets by George Balanchine (1904–1983), New York City Ballet co-founder and ballet master.
What was the name of the ballet that was performed on Tenth Avenue?
Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (1936) This dramatic ballet served as the climax of this musical production and has subsequently been presented as a stand-alone piece; however, several of the sung numbers in the show featured dance routines as well, notably the title number. Babes in Arms (1937), by Rodgers and Hart.
What ballets did Vera Zorina dance in?
For Hollywood. The Goldwyn Follies (1938), with Vera Zorina and William Dollar as principal dancers. "Romeo and Juliet," with ballet dancers as the Capulets and tap dancers as the Montagues. "Water Nymph Ballet," in which Zorina rose from the depths of a pool.
What is the significance of the ballet Serenade?
Serenade is a milestone in the history of dance. It is the first original ballet Balanchine created in America and is one of the signature works of New York City Ballet’s repertory. The ballet is performed by 28 dancers in blue costumes in front of a blue background. Originating it as a lesson in stage technique, ...
How many movements are there in the Serenade?
After its initial presentation, Serenade was reworked several times. In its present form there are four movements — “Sonatina,” “Waltz,” “Russian Dance,” and “Elegy.”. The last two movements reverse the order of Tschaikovsky’s score, ending the ballet on a note of sadness.
Did Balanchine like Tschaikovsky?
Balanchine had a special affinity for Tschaikovsky. “In everything that I did to Tschaikovsky’s music,” he told an interviewer, “I sensed his help. It wasn’t real conversation. But when I was working and saw that something was coming of it, I felt that it was Tschaikovsky who had helped me.”
What was Balanchine's style of ballet?
His work never featured a star, as he believed the performance should outshine the individual. He is credited with developing the neo-classical style distinct to the 20th century. Balanchine served as the artistic director of the New York City Ballet until his death, on April 30, 1983, in New York City.
How old was Balanchine when he joined Ballet Russes?
(His birth name, Balanchivadze, was shortened to Balanchine at Diaghilev's insistence.) At just 21 years old, Balanchine took over as choreographer for the group, one of the most renowned ballet companies in the world.
Who Was George Balanchine?
Balanchine was the co-founder, artistic director and chief choreographer of the New York City Ballet , and nearly every ballet company in the world has performed his work.
What is Balanchine known for?
Legacy and Death. In addition to ballet, Balanchine choreographed Hollywood movies and Broadway musicals. He is known for his connection to Igor Stravinsky; Balanchine created many ballets to his work, some in collaboration with the composer.
When did Balanchine graduate from the Conservatory of Music?
He graduated in 1921 and subsequently attended the Petrograd State Conservatory of Music, leaving the conservatory after three years. In 1922, Balanchine married a 15-year-old ballet student named Tamara Gevergeyeva. This was the first of four marriages to dancers, and for each of his wives, Balanchine would make a ballet. ...
Who was the artistic director of the New York City Ballet?
In 1946, Kirstein and Balanchine co-founded a company that would become the New York City Ballet. Balanchine served as artistic director of the company, based out of New York State Theater at Lincoln Center. He produced more than 150 works for the company, including "The Nutcracker.". While money was tight, Balanchine presented ...
What was Balanchine's role in the ballet?
Balanchine served as ballet master with Ballets Russes until the company was dissolved following the death of Diaghilev in 1929. After that, he spent the next few years on a variety of projects which took him all over Europe: choreographing for the Royal Danish Ballet; making a movie with former Diaghilev ballerina Lydia Lopoukhova (then the wife of British economist John Maynard Keynes) in England; staging dance extravaganzas for Britain’s popular Cochran Musical Theatre Revues; and working with DeBasil’s Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo (where he discovered the young Tamara Toumanova).
What ballets did Balanchine choreograph?
Since that time, Balanchine served as artistic director for New York City Ballet, choreographing (either wholly or in part) the majority of the now 175 productions the company has introduced since its inception. Among the most noteworthy were The Firebird (1949; restaged with Jerome Robbins, 1970); Bourrée Fantasque (1949); La Valse (1951); The Nutcracker (his first full length work for the company), Ivesiana and Western Symphony (1954); Allegro Brillante (1956); Agon (1957); Seven Deadly Sins (a revival of the original Les Ballets 1933 production) and Stars and Stripes (1958); Episodes (1959); Monumentum Pro Gesualdo and Liebeslieder Walzer (1960); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1962); Movements for Piano and Orchestra and Bugaku (1963); Don Quixote (in three acts) and Harlequinade (in two acts) (1965); Jewels (1967) (his first full length plotless ballet) and Who Cares? (1970). In June 1972, he choreographed Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Duo Concertant, Choral Variations on Bach’s Von Himmel Hoch, Scherzo à la Russe, Symphony in Three Movements, Divertimento from Le Baiser de la Fée, and new versions of Pulcinella (with Robbins) and Danses Concertantes for the New York City Ballet Stravinsky Festival.
What was the first ballet that Balanchine and Kirstein created?
The first result of the Balanchine Kirstein collaboration was The School of American Ballet, founded in early 1934 (the first day of class, in fact, was January 1 of that year) and existing to the present day. It later became the training ground for dancers going into New York City Ballet, which Balanchine and Kirstein were to establish together after 14 more years, in 1948. Balanchine’s first ballet in this country was Serenade, choreographed in 1934 to music by Tchaikovsky, which was premiered outdoors on the estate of a friend near White Plains, New York, as a workshop performance.
When did Balanchine and Kirstein collaborate?
In 1946 Balanchine and Kirstein collaborated again to form Ballet Society, a company which introduced New York subscription only audiences over the next two years to such new Balanchine works as The Four Temperaments (1946) and Stravinsky’s Renard (1947) and Orpheus (1948).
What honors did Balanchine receive?
Also, in the spring of 1980, Balanchine was honored by the National Society of Arts and Letters with their Gold Medal of Merit, and by the New York Chapter of the American Heart Association with their Heart of New York Award. He was also informed that the Austrian Government would be awarding him the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Letters, First Class. This Award joined his French Legion of Honor, his French Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters decoration, and his 1978 Knighthood of the Order of Dannebrog, First Class, given by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, on the list of stellar honors given by foreign Governments for his services and contributions to the artistic development of the 20th century.
What is the importance of ballet?
I believe that it is one of the great arts. The important thing in ballet is the movement itself, as it is sound which is important in a symphony. A ballet may contain a story, but the visual spectacle, not the story, is the essential element. The music of great musicians, it can be enjoyed and understood without any verbal introduction and the choreographer and the dancer must remember that they reach the audience through the eye and the audience, in its turn, must train itself to see what is performed upon the stage. It is the illusion created which convinces the audience, much as it is with the work of a magician. If the illusion fails, the ballet fails, no matter how well a program note tells the audience that it has succeeded.”
When did the New York City Ballet perform live from Lincoln Center?
In January 1978, New York City Ballet participated in the acclaimed PBS series Live from Lincoln Center for the first time. Coppélia, choreographed by George Balanchine and Alexandra Danilova in 1974, was seen live from the stage of the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center. This presentation also netted Balanchine an Emmy nomination.
