NYCB Vol. 10 No. 10 - The Four Temperaments
- Lauryn Johnson
- Feb 6, 2024
- 1 min read
In the late 1930s, Balanchine had extra money from his work on Broadway and in Hollywood and used it to commission Paul Hindemith to write him a piece of music for his own amusement. It was completed in 1940, and it wasn’t until 1946 that he choreographed The Four Temperaments to the score. It was the first ballet that he choreographed for Ballet Society.
Mary-Ellen Moylan: “I was asked to join the company [Ballet Society], and Balanchine made the ‘Sanguinic’ section of The Four Temperaments for me. In all my career I have had very few ballets choreographed for me, and this one was really extraordinary. I sensed how great the ballet was even then. My pas de deux had a wonderful feeling of elasticity, fluidity, almost defying gravity.” — “Balanchine’s Ballerinas” by Robert Tracy
Walter Terry also spoke of gravity in his review of the ballet: “Gravity is dealt with excitingly as one dancer defies its commands through aerial action while another plays with it in precarious balance and still another succumbs to its pull and sinks floorboards.” —New York Herald Tribune, 1951
Mary-Ellen Moylan and Fred Danieli. Photos by Larry Colwell, 1947. @libraryofcongress
It's often striking how much of our daily friction, whether in personal relationships or professional teams, stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of underlying motivations and reactions. Recognizing these deeper patterns can transform how we communicate and collaborate, moving beyond surface-level issues to more empathetic and effective engagement. While awareness is the first step, truly pinpointing these core behavioral tendencies in ourselves and others can be a significant challenge. For anyone looking to gain a clearer picture of these inherent traits, a comprehensive resource on understanding your temperament can offer invaluable insights.