"Within a few weeks there was genuine excitement when we premièred a very experimental new ballet. The company had danced the previous July in Montreal at Expo '67, and Balanchine, touring the various exhibitions, first heard the "music" of the Greek mathematical composer lannis Xenakis. It was played in conjunction with a light show that structurally mimicked the sounds, and I think that idea intrigued Mr. B. Xenakis' Mestastaseis & Pithoprakta consisted of sixty-one differe

Balanchine (standing front, holding chair) and Tanaquil LeClercq (behind with arms lifted). Photo by Martha Swope, 1956. "George Balanchine, artistic director of the New York City Ballet and choreographer de luxe, made an unprogrammed appearance in the cast of Jerome Robbins’ new ballet, ‘The Concert,’ at the City Center last night. Because of the illness of Todd Blender, MR. Balanchine took over the mid portions of his role, and Robert Barnett stepped into the dance portions

Francisco Moncion. Photo by Martha Swope, 1972. "An image I treasure is that of [Francisco] Moncion fluttering around like a demented butterfly with a cigar clamped between his teeth, like Broderick Crawford cast as The Queen of the May. Robbins's humor is brilliantly and specifically American..." --Joseph H. Mazo, Women's Wear Daily, 1971 Francisco Moncion. Photo by Martha Swope, 1972. Moncion: "It's fun to do sometimes, but you have to really work yourself into the mood, br

“‘Diamonds’ demonstrates the quintessential Balanchine, down to the last ballerina-worshipping hand kiss by her cavalier. In the ballet’s exquisite pas de deux, Peter Martins, every ince equal to his ballerina, and Suzanne Farrell turned out a truly great, especially well-bred performance.” —Anna Kisselgoff, New York Times, 1975 Suzanne Farrell and Peter Martins (Balanchine center). WNET Filming. Photos by Martha Swope, 1977.

The following text comes from Edward Villella's autobiography, Prodigal Son: Dancing for Balanchine in a World of Pain and Magic. The major breakthrough in my career came in 1960. I was cast in Prodigal Son, and in typical New York City Ballet fashion no one ever talked to me about it officially. I wasn't even aware that Prodigal was being revived. I was standing around waiting for a rehearsal to finish when Diana Adams turned to me and said, "Oh, congratulations." I said, "A

The following is a chapter from Twyla Tharp's book Push Comes to Shove : Twyla Tharp Foundation Shortly after Sue's Leg, I met with Lucia Chase and Oliver Smith, co-directors of American Ballet Theatre, and their associate, Antony Tudor, in a very large, fairly intimidating, sumptuously appointed, and appropriately high-up corner office in a Chase Manhattan Bank building. Wasting no time, Miss Chase asked me to make a ballet for Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gelsey Kirkland, Martine v

Suki Schorer. Photo by Martha Swope, 1964. Nicholas Magallanes, Suki Schorer, Gloria Govrin, Frank Ohman 1964. Photo by Erio Piccagliani...

Bart Cook and Allegra Kent in Episodes. Photo by Martha Swope. From Once a Dancer... by Allegra Kent: "When Balanchine created the part...

Gloria Govrin and Frank Ohman. Photo by Martha Swope, 1965. From -- Balanchine's Dancing Cowboy by Frank Ohman "[Balanchine] fostered...

The following is a chapter from Merrill Ashley's autobiography Dancing for Balanchine . In this chapter she recalls the making of the...

Patricia McBride and Nicholas Magallanes in La Valse. Photo by Fred Fehl, 1963. In 1919, Diaghilev requested that Maurice Ravel compose...

“'I have a bit of Vienna in my bloodstream,’ Mr. Balanchine said in an interview during a lighting rehearsal some days ago. ‘I’m from the...

"George Balanchine’s Vienna Waltzes was given for the first time this season, in one of its very best performances, Tuesday night by the...

Merrill Ashley in Ballo della Regina. Photo by Martha Swope. “There was George Balanchine’s Ballo Della Regina, a 1978 work set to...

Rhonda Sampson, Sheniqua Nolan, Yvonne Hall, Roslyn Sampson, Joseph Wyatt, and Lydia Abarca [5/7] This week @dancetheatreofharlem ...

This footage is from a 1970 TV Special “Ballet with Edward Villella” and shows he and Patricia McBride rehearsing Tschaikovksy Pas de...

"George had been serious when he told me the ballet would be difficult. He had me doing everything – turns, balances, jumps, and...

Maria Tallchief and Francisco Moncion. Photo by Martha Swope. New York Public Library “It was Maria Tallchief’s performance in...

In this episode we speak with author and dance researcher Nancy Reynolds on her lifetime of work preserving the work of George...

Photo by Martha Swope [44/50] Counting down 50 NYCB Nutcrackers this year with stories from NYCB dancers past and present! Today we hear...