Maria Tallchief in her autobiography Maria Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina: George Balanchine (left) Maria Tallchief & Jerome Robbins. Photo by Walter E.Owen, 1950. "Balanchine believed New York City Ballet needed a story ballet in its repertory and hoped Prodigal Son would serve the purpose. The ballet was a success at its premiere in 1929 and had never been seen in America. The Original Ballet Russe had presented David Lichine's version of the Prokofiev score, but it w

In 1950, Balanchine felt that NYCB needed a story ballet in its repertoire, so he revived his 1929 ballet Prodigal Son . He was not especially fond of the ballet because he was obliged to create it on Serge Lifar, who was Diaghilev's favored dancer in the Ballet Russe at the time. Balanchine didn't care for his dancing, but he also felt more personally inspired to create ballets that showcased women rather than men. Prodigal Son was the antithesis of his normal inclination: f

“Very welcome visitors have been the New York City Ballet, in many respects the Sadler’s Wells opposite number in America…if I have...

The day after Balanchine’s Firebird premiered in London, 1950, The Times wrote: “Firebird, for which London has waited long, was also in...

“From the sophisticated audience of London balletomanes, accustomed to the polished perfection of the famous Sadler’s Wells troupe, the...

This week NYCB takes London as part of its 75th anniversary season tour schedule! In 1950 and 1952, NYCB made two important trips to...

On October 11, 1948, New York City Ballet gave its first official performance at the City Center Theater. The program was all Balanchine....

'Ballet Imperial' was choreographed in 1941 for American Ballet Caravan's South American tour. It was thought that a classical ballet...

Allegra Kent was 11 years old when she first experienced an evening at the ballet (1948). The third ballet on the program was La...

Bourrée Fantasque was choreographed by Balanchine in 1949 and was described by Nancy Reynolds (affiliate link) as, “melodious, colorful,...

I found this photo transparency in the LIFE archives. It depicts Leslie Caron shooting a short Charleston sequence that appears in the...

Balanchine choreographed Apollo in 1928 when he was just 25 years old. In 1951, he revived it and cast André Eglevsky (aged 34) as...

The ballet Prodigal Son was originally choreographed by Balanchine in 1929 for the Diaghilev’s Ballet Russe. The composer, Prokofiev,...