American Ballet Theatre

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The American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, is one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century, and a leading company in America.

Angel Corella, Diana Vishneva, Jose Manuel Carreno, Alessandra Ferri, Julio Bocca, David Hallberg, Michelle Wiles, [Paloma Herrera], Julie Kent, Vladimir Malakhov, [Gillian Murphy], Xiomara Reyes, and Ethan Stiefel.

History

The company was originally founded in 1937 as the Mordkin Ballet, and then reorganized in 1940 with a new name as the Ballet Theatre, with direction from Lucia Chase and Rich Pleasant. In 1956 it became the American Ballet Theatre, and has kept that name ever since. The Metropolitan Opera House in New York is home to the American Ballet Theater

Throughout this time, the company has had several artistic directors:

1940-1980: Lucia Chase and Oliver Smith
1980-1990: Mikhail Baryshnikov
1990-1992: Jane Hermann and Oliver Smith
1992-Current: Kevin McKenzie

In 1960, the company became the first American company to dance in the Soviet Union.

Principal dancers have included Mikhail Baryshnikov, Alicia Alonso, Erik Bruhn, Anton Dolin, Leslie Browne and Natalia Makarova.[link]

[Principal dancers] today include Maxim Beloserkovsky, Jose Manuel Carreño, Irina Dvorovenko, [Angel Corella], and Paloma Herrera.

Repertoire

Many choreographers have staged works for ABT, including George Balanchine, Adolph Bolm, Michel Fokine, Léonide Massine, and Bronislava Nijinska. Antony Tudor, the British choreographer, made his American debut with the company. Agnes de Mille staged the majority of her ballet works with ABT. Others include Jerome Robbins, Twyla Tharp, and Alvin Ailey. ABT's 1976 production of "The Nutcracker", starring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland, was televised in 1977 and has become a TV classic. Their 2006 Spring Season at the Met includes Manon, Le Corsaire, Giselle, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Sylvia, and a Stravinsky festival.

Today the ABT encourages the growth of dance and choreography by holding a summer intensive care session every summer for young people across the country. Also, The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School teaches the style and techniques specifically used by the ABT.

External links

[American Ballet Theatre Website]
[1]- American Ballet Theatre entry in the Encyclopedia Britannica

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