The American Ballet Theatre is one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century, and a leading company in America. A ballet company is a group of dancers who perform ballets. ... A century is one hundred of something, usually one hundred consecutive years, or 100 runs in cricket, or a bicycle ride of 100 miles in a day. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations by or about: United States Wikinews has news related to this article: United States United States government Official website of the United States government - Gateway to governmental sites White House - Official site of the US President Senate. ...

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 till today. 1937 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1956 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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. Categories: Korean War people | People stubs ... Mikhail Nikolaevitch Baryshnikov (in Russian Михаил Николаевич Баришников) (born January 28, 1948) is a famous Soviet-American dancer and actor. ...

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. Choreography (also known as dance composition) is the art of making structures in which movement occurs, the term composition may also refer to the navigation or connection of these movement structures. ... George Balanchine (January 9 (O.S.) = January 22 (N.S.), 1904–April 30, 1983) was one of the 20th centurys foremost choreographers, and one of the founders of American ballet. ... Leonid Fyodorovich Myasin (August 9, 1896–March 15, 1979) was a Russian choreographer and ballet dancer. ... Bronislava Nijinska (1891 - 1972) was a Russian dancer, choreographer, and teacher of Polish descent, also known as Bronislava Fominitshna Nizhinskaya, in Polish language: Bronisława Niżyńska. ... Agnes de Mille in “3 Virgins and a Devil”, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1941 Agnes George de Mille (September 8, 1905 – October 7, 1993) was an American dancer and choreographer. ... Jerome Robbins (October 11, 1918–July 29, 1998) was an American choreographer whose work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater. ... Twyla Tharp (b. ... Alvin Ailey, Jr. ...

External Links

• American Ballet Theatre Website