George Balanchine
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1904 - 1983
George Balanchine (January 22, 1904 (O. S. January 9) – April 30, 1983) was a Georgian-American ballet choreographer who was one of the most influential 20th-century choreographers.[2] Styled as the father of American ballet,[3] he co-founded the New York City Ballet and remained its Artistic Director for more than 35 years.[4] His choreography is characterized by plotless ballets with minimal costume and décor, performed to classical and neoclassical music.[5]
Born in St. Petersburg, Balanchine took the standards and technique from his time at the Imperial Ballet School and fused it with other schools of movement that he had adopted during his tenure on Broadway and in Hollywood, creating his signature "neoclassical style".[6][7]
He was a choreographer known for his musicality; he expressed music with dance and worked extensively with leading composers of his time like Igor Stravinsky.[8] Balanchine was invited to America in 1933 by a young arts patron named Lincoln Kirstein, and together they founded the School of American Ballet. Along with Kirstein, Balanchine also co-founded the New York City Ballet (NYCB).[4]
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