Photo by Radford Bascome, 1954. From Allegra Kent's autobiography Once A Dancer: "'Did you hear that?' Mr. B. imitated a trumpet and repeated a voice we just heard in the piano score. I nodded my head. 'Allegra, when that starts, open your arms slowly and start to sit.' Now the men received their instructions. 'Make a chair for her with your hands.' Mr. B. continued to surprise us. "I was to be like an elastic icon, ever unattainable, standing on the shoulders of two of the m

Edward Villella and Patricia McBride. Photo by Fred Fehl, 1961. Harry Ransom Center. Edward Villella on Symphony in C: “I loved ending with this ballet. It was something I knew I could really do—it suited my abilities. I could hear the audience gasp and hear the round of thunderous applause when I made my first exit during the movement. The gasp and the applause rang out again when I did the repeat. It stirred me up, higher than I'd ever been. (left) Francisco Moncion & Melis

Robert Lyon. Photo by Costas, Arlene Croce: "In his latest work for New York City Ballet, Jerome Robbins uses a Glass score; he even uses...