New York City Ballet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New York City Ballet |
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| General information | |
| Name | New York City Ballet |
| Previous names |
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| Year founded | 1948 |
| Founders | |
| Founding choreographers | |
| Principal venue | |
| Website | www.nycballet.com |
| Artistic staff | |
| Artistic Director | Jonathan Stafford (and Wendy Whelan, Associate Artistic Director) |
| Ballet Master | Rosemary Dunleavy |
| Music Director | Andrew Litton |
| Other | |
| Orchestra | The New York City Ballet Orchestra |
| Official school | School of American Ballet |
| Associated schools | |
| Formation |
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The New York City Ballet (NYCB) is a famous ballet company in the United States. It was started in 1948 by two important people: choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are known as the main choreographers who helped build the company. Before becoming NYCB, the group grew from earlier dance companies like the American Ballet and the Ballet Society.
Contents
Discovering the New York City Ballet's History
In 1946, Lincoln Kirstein wrote that his goal was to let Balanchine create dances exactly how he wanted. Kirstein was the company's General Director from 1946 to 1989. He helped the company grow and stay strong by organizing things and raising money.
The company was officially named New York City Ballet in 1948. It became the main ballet company at the City Center of Music and Drama. Later, it became even more successful and moved to the New York State Theater. This theater is now called the David H. Koch Theater. It was designed by Philip Johnson with Balanchine's ideas in mind.
NYCB was the first ballet company in the U.S. to have two permanent homes. One is at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan. The other is at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York. The School of American Ballet (S.A.B.), which Balanchine also started, is where the company's dancers are trained.
After moving to the State Theater, Balanchine created many new ballets. These dances became the core of the company's performances until he passed away in 1983. He also worked closely with choreographer Jerome Robbins. Robbins rejoined the company in 1969 after working on Broadway shows.
NYCB still has the largest collection of ballets of any American company. Each year, they perform more than 60 ballets in their winter and spring seasons at Lincoln Center. They also perform over 20 ballets in their summer season in Saratoga Springs. Some famous ballets they have performed include The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Many talented dancers have been trained and developed by City Ballet. Some well-known dancers who joined as principal dancers include Mikhail Baryshnikov, Suzanne Farrell, Peter Martins, Patricia McBride, Sara Mearns, and Tiler Peck.
Celebrating Music and Dance: NYCB's Festivals
The New York City Ballet has often celebrated famous composers and their music. These special events usually included new ballets and performances of existing ones.
- In 1960, Balanchine presented Salute to Italy. This event featured new ballets like Monumentum pro Gesualdo and Donizetti Variations.
- In 1972, Balanchine honored the composer Igor Stravinsky with an eight-day festival. Stravinsky was a great friend and collaborator. Balanchine created 22 new dances for this event. He also worked with Robbins on Pulcinella.
- In 1975, Balanchine paid tribute to French composer Maurice Ravel with a two-week Hommage à Ravel. Balanchine, Robbins, and other choreographers created 16 new ballets.
- In 1981, Balanchine planned a two-week festival for Russian composer Peter Ilyitch Tschaikovsky. Twelve new dances were created for this event. Balanchine also re-choreographed his 1933 ballet Mozartiana.
- In 1982, Balanchine organized another celebration for Igor Stravinsky's 100th birthday. The City Ballet performed 25 ballets set to Stravinsky's music. Balanchine created three new ballets for this occasion.
Leadership After Balanchine
After Balanchine passed away in 1983, Peter Martins became the balletmaster of the company. For 30 years, Martins helped keep the New York City Ballet financially stable. He also maintained the high quality of the dancers' performances and their musicality. Martins retired from his role in 2018.
In 1988, for the company's 40th anniversary, Martins held an American Music Festival. He asked several choreographers to create new dances. He also presented ballets by Balanchine and Robbins. This festival included the world premieres of more than 20 new dances.
In Spring 2008, the company celebrated Jerome Robbins. They performed many of his important ballets again.
Dancers' Choice Performances
Dancers' Choice is a special benefit performance. It raises money for the Dancers' Emergency Fund. The first one was held on June 27, 2008. Principal dancer Jonathan Stafford helped organize it. The program included different ballets and parts of famous works like Jewels and Symphony in C.
The second Dancers' Choice benefit was held on June 14, 2009. It featured Sleeping Beauty and Union Jack. Principal dancer Jenifer Ringer supervised this program.
What to Expect: NYCB's Performances and Programs
NYCB performs during the fall, winter, and spring at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. They also perform George Balanchine's Nutcracker in November and December. In the summer, they have a residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. The company also travels and performs internationally.
Before some shows, you can attend "First Position Discussions." These talks give you information about the performance. They are held in the fourth ring of the theater. Volunteers, including former dancers, lead these discussions. "Inside NYCB" events are hour-long programs. They explore the company's history and how it works. These often include performances and talks with dancers and artistic staff.
NYCB also offers programs for younger audiences and adults:
- Family Saturdays: One-hour interactive programs for children aged 5 and up.
- Children's Workshops and In Motion Workshops: These are pre-performance activities for children. They explore the music, movement, and themes of a ballet. Children aged 5–8 attend Children's Workshops, and those aged 9–11 attend In Motion Workshops.
- Ballet Essentials: A 75-minute informal ballet class for adults aged 21 and up. It's for people with little to no dance experience.
NYCB dancers help lead all these programs.
Affordable Tickets: $30 for 30 and Society NYCB
New York City Ballet offers special tickets for young people. If you are between 13 and 30 years old, you can buy tickets for $30 for certain performances. You can get these tickets at the box office, online, or by phone. Sales for each week's shows start on Monday morning.
The "Fourth Ring Society" used to offer discounted tickets for seats in the theater's Fourth Ring. This program was later renamed "Society NYCB." It now offers discounted seats in all parts of the theater.
Training Future Dancers: New York Choreographic Institute
The New York Choreographic Institute was started in 2000 by Irene Diamond and Peter Martins. It helps new choreographers grow their skills. It has three main programs:
- Choreographic sessions: These give choreographers dancers and studio space to create new works.
- Fellowship initiatives: These are yearly awards for new choreographers connected to a ballet company.
- Choreographic forums: These are discussions and meetings about choreography, music, and design in ballet.
The Talented Dancers of NYCB
NYCB has many amazing dancers. They are divided into different groups: Principal Dancers, Soloists, and the Corps de Ballet.
Principal Dancers
These are the lead dancers in the company. They perform the main roles in ballets.
| Name | Nationality | Training | Joined NYCB | Promoted to Principal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Angle |  United States |
Allegheny Ballet Academy, School of American Ballet | 2004 | 2009 |
| Ashley Bouder | United States |
Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, School of American Ballet | 2000 | 2005 |
| Chun Wai Chan |  China |
Guangzhou Art School (China), Houston Ballet Academy | 2021 | 2022 |
| Adrian Danchig-Waring | United States |
Dance Theatre Seven, School of American Ballet | 2003 | 2013 |
| Megan Fairchild | United States |
Dance Concepts, Ballet West Conservatory, School of American Ballet | 2002 | 2005 |
| Jovani Furlan |  Brazil |
Bolshoi Theater School (Brazil), Miami City Ballet School | 2019 | 2022 |
| Emilie Gerrity | United States |
Betty Jean's Dance Studio, New Paltz School of Ballet, School of American Ballet | 2010 | 2023 |
| Joseph Gordon | United States |
Phoenix Dance Academy, School of American Ballet | 2012 | 2018 |
| Anthony Huxley | United States |
School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School, Contra Costa Ballet School | 2007 | 2015 |
| Isabella LaFreniere | United States |
Southold Dance Theatre, Joffrey Academy of Dance, School of American Ballet | 2014 | 2023 |
| Sara Mearns | United States |
Calvert-Brodie School of Dance, School of North Carolina Dance Theatre, South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities, School of American Ballet | 2004 | 2008 |
| Roman Mejia | United States |
Mejia Ballet Academy, School of American Ballet | 2017 | 2023 |
| Mira Nadon | United States |
Inland Pacific Ballet Academy of Montclair, School of American Ballet | 2018 | 2023 |
| Tiler Peck | United States |
Bakersfield Dance Company, Conjunctive Point, Westside School of Ballet, School of American Ballet | 2005 | 2009 |
| Unity Phelan | United States |
Princeton Ballet School, School of American Ballet | 2012 | 2021 |
| Taylor Stanley | United States |
The Rock School for Dance Education, Miami City Ballet Summer Program, School of American Ballet | 2010 | 2016 |
| Daniel Ulbricht | United States |
Judith Lee Johnson Studio of Dance, Les Jeunes Danseurs, Chautauqua Summer Dance Program, School of American Ballet | 2001 | 2007 |
| Andrew Veyette | United States |
Dance Arts (Visalia, California), Westside Ballet, School of American Ballet | 2000 | 2007 |
| Peter Walker | United States |
Gulfshore Ballet, School of American Ballet | 2012 | 2022 |
| Indiana Woodward |  France |
Yuri Grigoriev School of Ballet, School of American Ballet | 2012 | 2021 |
Soloists
Soloists perform important individual roles and sometimes lead smaller groups of dancers.
| Name | Nationality | Training | Joined NYCB | Promoted to Soloist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sara Adams | United States |
Mid-Cape Ballet Academy, Boston Ballet School, School of American Ballet | 2009 | 2017 |
| Daniel Applebaum | United States |
Maryland Youth Ballet, School of American Ballet | 2005 | 2018 |
| Gilbert Bolden III | United States |
Idyllwild Arts Academy, The Rock School for Dance Education, School of American Ballet | 2017 | 2023 |
| Preston Chamblee | United States |
Raleigh School of Ballet, International Ballet Academy (North Carolina), School of American Ballet | 2015 | 2022 |
| Harrison Coll | United States |
School of American Ballet | 2013 | 2018 |
| Ashley Hod | United States |
Great Neck School of Dance, School of American Ballet | 2013 | 2022 |
| Emily Kikta | United States |
Thomas Studio of Performing Arts, Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh, School of American Ballet | 2011 | 2022 |
| Ashley Laracey | United States |
Carty Academy of Theater Dance, Sarasota Ballet of Florida, School of American Ballet | 2003 | 2013 |
| Megan LeCrone | United States |
Greensboro Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts, School of American Ballet | 2002 | 2013 |
| Olivia MacKinnon | United States |
Mobile Ballet, School of American Ballet | 2013 | 2023 |
| Alexa Maxwell | United States |
Deanne's Dance Studio, Minnesota Dance Theater, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, School of American Ballet | 2013 | 2023 |
| Miriam Miller | United States |
University of Iowa Youth Ballet, City Ballet of Iowa, School of American Ballet | 2016 | 2022 |
| Erica Pereira | United States |
Ballet Academy East, School of American Ballet | 2007 | 2009 |
| Brittany Pollack | United States |
School of American Ballet | 2007 | 2013 |
| Davide Ricardo |  Italy |
Istituto Regional Della Danza, Opera Ballet School, School of American Ballet | 2018 | 2023 |
| Aaron Sanz |  Spain |
C.P.D. Carmen Amaya (Madrid), School of American Ballet | 2012 | 2018 |
| Troy Schumacher | United States |
Atlanta Ballet, Chautauqua School of Dance, School of American Ballet | 2005 | 2017 |
| KJ Takahashi | United States |
Ballet Academy of Texas, Mejia Ballet International, Ballet Tech, School of American Ballet | 2021 | 2023 |
| Sebastian Villarini-Velez |  Puerto Rico |
School for the Performing Arts (Puerto Rico), School of American Ballet | 2013 | 2018 |
| Emma Von Enck | United States |
Royal School of Ballet, Cleveland School of Dance, Cleveland Ballet Conservatory, School of American Ballet | 2017 | 2022 |
Behind the Scenes: Artistic Staff
The artistic staff helps run the New York City Ballet. They include directors and teachers who work with the dancers.
Senior Repertory Director
- Rosemary Dunleavy
Repertory Directors
- Jean-Pierre Frohlich
- Gonzalo Garcia
- Craig Hall
- Lisa Jackson
- Glenn Keenan
- Rebecca Krohn
- Christine Redpath
- Kathleen Tracey
Guest Teachers
- Espen Giljane
- Arch Higgins
- Darci Kistler
- Andrei Kramarevsky
Children's Repertory Director
- Dena Abergel
Associate Children's Repertory Director
- Arch Higgins
Resident Choreographer and Artistic Advisor
- Justin Peck
Artist in Residence
- Alexei Ratmansky
The New York City Ballet Orchestra
The NYCB Orchestra has 66 members. It is a very important orchestra in its own right. They have played for thousands of NYCB performances over many years. It is one of the most flexible orchestras in the world. In one week, they might play three or four times more music than other symphony orchestras. The main musicians in the orchestra also play most of the solo parts and chamber music in the NYCB's ballets.
The orchestra travels with the ballet on all its tours in North America. When the ballet tours internationally, local orchestras are used. However, members of the NYCB Orchestra often join as soloists or extra musicians.
Besides the orchestra members, NYCB also has six full-time pianists. They all play in the orchestra pit regularly. The NYCB Orchestra sometimes plays for other dance companies too. For example, they have played for the Australian Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet.
In 2019, an anonymous donor gave money to rename the orchestra pit. It is now called the "Stravinsky Orchestra Pit" in honor of the composer.
Music Directors
- Léon Barzin (1948–1963)
- Robert Irving (1963–1989)
- Gordon Boelzner (1989–2000)
- Andrea Quinn (2001–2006)
- Fayçal Karoui (2006–2012)
- Andrew Litton (2015–present)
Staff Conductors
- Clotilde Otranto
- Andrews Sill (acting Music Director, 2012–2014; Associate Music Director 2014–present)
See also
- In the Wings: Behind the Scenes at the New York City Ballet, 2007 book
- List of productions of Swan Lake derived from its 1895 revival
