American Ballet Theatre (ABT) is a
classical ballet
Classical ballet is any of the traditional, formal styles of ballet that exclusively employ classical ballet technique. It is known for its aesthetics and rigorous technique (such as pointe work, turnout of the legs, and high extensions), its ...
company based in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
. Founded in 1939 by Lucia Chase and Richard Pleasant, it is recognized as one of the world's leading classical ballet companies. Through 2019, it had an annual eight-week season at the
Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center) in the spring and a shorter season at the
David H. Koch Theater in the fall; the company tours around the world the rest of the year. The company was scheduled to have a 5-week spring season at the MET preceded by a 2-week season at the Koch Theater beginning in 2020. ABT is the parent company of the
American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, and was recognized as "America's National Ballet Company" in 2006 by the
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is Bicameralism, bicameral, composed of a lower body, the United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives, and an upper body, ...
.
History
In 1939 Pleasant and Chase committed to the creation of "a large scale company with an eclectic repertory".
The pair and a small group from
Mordkin Ballet formed Ballet Theatre. Their new company's first performance was on 11 January 1940.
Chase began developing the company's repertoire of well-known full-length ballets, as well as original works, amidst financial issues. In 1945 Oliver Smith joined Ballet Theatre and became co-director with Chase.
In 1957 the company changed its name to American Ballet Theatre. It continued to emphasize ballet classics, yet remained challenged by financial issues. During the 1960s and 1970s, the company's prospects brightened due to more favorable private funding. During this period, American Ballet Theatre shifted its ballet focus to the recruitment of star performers. In 1977, the company began its spring season at the
Metropolitan Opera House, its new official venue.
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mikhail Nikolayevich Baryshnikov ( rus, Михаил Николаевич Барышников, p=mʲɪxɐˈil bɐ'rɨʂnʲɪkəf; lv, Mihails Barišņikovs; born January 28, 1948) is a Soviet Latvian-born Russian-American dancer, choreograp ...
in 1980 became Artistic Director for American Ballet Theatre. Baryshnikov staged, restaged, and refurbished numerous classical ballets and, according to the company, strengthened their classical tradition. Baryshnikov was replaced in 1989 by Jane Hermann and Oliver Smith, who remained as Artistic Directors until 1992, when
Kevin McKenzie received the appointment. McKenzie satisfied the demands of the traditional ballet audience by prioritizing full-length narrative ballets. He also succeeded in keeping the company afloat during financially unstable times. In 2004 he established an official associate ballet school, the
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre (ABT/JKO School) is the associate school of American Ballet Theatre located at 890 Broadway, within the Flatiron District of Manhattan, New York City. The school comprises a children' ...
. After a long period of no in-house choreographer, McKenzie appointed
Alexei Ratmansky as "Artist in Residence" in January 2009.
Artistic staff
Artistic directors
*
Lucia Chase
Lucia Hosmer Chase (24 March 1897 – 9 January 1986) was an American dancer, actress, ballet director and also the co-founder of the American Ballet Theatre.
Life and career
Chase was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, the daughter of Elizabet ...
and
Oliver Smith (1940–1980)
*
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mikhail Nikolayevich Baryshnikov ( rus, Михаил Николаевич Барышников, p=mʲɪxɐˈil bɐ'rɨʂnʲɪkəf; lv, Mihails Barišņikovs; born January 28, 1948) is a Soviet Latvian-born Russian-American dancer, choreograp ...
(1980–1989)
* Jane Hermann and Oliver Smith (1989–1992)
*
Kevin McKenzie (1992–present)
Executive director and CEO
*
Rachel S. Moore Executive director (2003-2011) CEO (2011-2016)
Executive director
*
Kara Medoff Barnett
Kara Medoff Barnett (born Kara Silber Medoff on September 26, 1978) is an American business executive, theatre producer, and arts administrator. She is the former managing director of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center Intern ...
(2016–present; outgoing 2021)
Resident choreographers
*
Antony Tudor
Antony Tudor (born William Cook; 4 April 1908 – 19 April 1987) was an English ballet choreographer, teacher and dancer. He founded the London Ballet, and later the Philadelphia Ballet Guild in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., in the mid-195 ...
(1940–1950)
*
Alexei Ratmansky (2009–present)
Music directors, conductors, concertmasters (partial list)
* Ormsby Wilkins (music director) (current)
* Charles Barker (principal conductor) (current)
* David LaMarche (conductor) (current)
*
Benjamin Bowman (concertmaster) (current)
Dancers
American Ballet Theatre has four levels within the company. They are (in ascending order):
apprentice
Apprenticeship is a system for training a new generation of practitioners of a trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study (classroom work and reading). Apprenticeships can also enable practitioners to gain a ...
,
corps de ballet
In ballet, the ''corps de ballet'' (; French for "body of the ballet") is the group of dancers who are not principal dancers or soloists. They are a permanent part of the ballet company and often work as a backdrop for the principal dancers. ...
,
soloist,
[
] and
principal.
[
]
Principals
Soloists
Former dancers
The following is a partial list of former dancers with ABT, listed by their highest rank prior to leaving the company.
Former principal dancers
*
Stella Abrera (1996-2020)
*
Ivan Allen (1950s–1960s)
*
Alicia Alonso (1943–1948)
*
Nina Ananiashvili
Nina Ananiashvili (born: ''Nino Ananiashvili'', ka, ნინო ანანიაშვილი; born March 19, 1963) is a Georgian ballerina and artistic director of the State Ballet of Georgia. She has been described by the ''Daily Teleg ...
(1993–2009)
* Victor Barbee (1975–2003)
*
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mikhail Nikolayevich Baryshnikov ( rus, Михаил Николаевич Барышников, p=mʲɪxɐˈil bɐ'rɨʂnʲɪkəf; lv, Mihails Barišņikovs; born January 28, 1948) is a Soviet Latvian-born Russian-American dancer, choreograp ...
(1974–1978)
*
Patrick Bissell
Walter Patrick Bissell (December 1, 1957 – December 29, 1987) was an American danseur. He was a leading principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre. On his death at age 30 from a drug overdose, he was described by the artistic direc ...
(1977–1987)
*
Julio Bocca (1986–2006)
* Karena Brock (1973–?)
*
Leslie Browne
Leslie Browne (born June 29, 1957) is an American prima ballerina and actress. She was a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre in New York City from 1986 until 1993. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Act ...
(1976–1993)
*
Erik Bruhn
Erik Belton Evers Bruhn (3 October 1928 – 1 April 1986) was a Danish danseur, choreographer, artistic director, actor, and author.
Early life
Erik Bruhn was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, the fourth child and first son of Ellen (née Evers), ...
(1949–1958, 1961–1972)
*
Fernando Bujones (1972–85, 1990s)
*
José Manuel Carreño
José Manuel Carreño (born 25 May 1968) is a retired Cuban ballet dancer, who performed as a principal dancer with the English National Ballet, Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.
Carreño started dancing at the age of ten and received ...
(1995–2011)
*
Lucia Chase
Lucia Hosmer Chase (24 March 1897 – 9 January 1986) was an American dancer, actress, ballet director and also the co-founder of the American Ballet Theatre.
Life and career
Chase was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, the daughter of Elizabet ...
(1940–1960)
*
Ángel Corella (1996–2012)
* Eleonor D'Antuono (1961–1981)
*
Anton Dolin (1940–1946)
*
Irina Dvorovenko (1996–2013)
*
Alessandra Ferri (1985–2007)
*
Carla Fracci (1967–?)
*
Alexander Godunov (1979–1982)
* Guillaume Graffin (1988–2005)
*
Cynthia Gregory (1965–1991)
*
Cynthia Harvey (1974–1986, 1988–1996)
*
Susan Jaffe (1980–2002)
*
Julie Kent (1993–2015)
*
Gelsey Kirkland (1974–1984)
*
John Kriza (1940–1966)
* Robert La Fosse (1977–1986)
*
Harold Lang (1943–1945)
*
Annabelle Lyon
Annabelle Lyon ( New York City, January 8, 1916 – November 4, 2011, Mansfield, Massachusetts) was an American ballerina. She was a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre.
She was raised in Memphis, where her father Max ran a chain o ...
(1939–1943)
*
Natalia Makarova (1970–1986)
*
Vladimir Malakhov (1995–2008)
*
Alicia Markova
Dame Alicia Markova DBE (1 December 1910 – 2 December 2004) was a British ballerina and a choreographer, director and teacher of classical ballet. Most noted for her career with Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes and touring internat ...
(1941–1946)
*
Kevin McKenzie (1979–1991)
*
Amanda McKerrow (1982–2005)
* Kathleen Moore (1982–2006)
*
Veronika Part (2002–2017)
* Kirk Peterson (1974–1980)
* Danilo Radojevic (1978–1993)
*
Johan Renvall (1978–1996)
*
Keith Roberts
Keith John Kingston Roberts (20 September 1935 – 5 October 2000) was an English science fiction author. He began publishing with two stories in the September 1964 issue of ''Science Fantasy'' magazine, "Anita" (the first of a series of stor ...
(1987–1999)
*
Ethan Stiefel (1997–2012)
* Marianna Tcherkassky (1970–1996)
*
Ashley Tuttle (1987–2004)
*
Martine van Hamel
Martine van Hamel (born 16 November 1945) is a Dutch choreographer, director, teacher, retired ballerina and former Principal dancer at the National Ballet of Canada and American Ballet Theatre (ABT). She was a gold medalist at the biennial Varn ...
(1970–1992)
* Edward Verso (1962–1968)
*
Michele Wiles
Michele Wiles is an American ballet dancer. She was a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre from 2005 - 2011. In 2011, she left ABT to form the independent classical ballet company Ballet Next with former New York City Ballet principa ...
(1998–2011)
*
Diana Vishneva (2005–2017)
*
Marcelo Gomes (1997–2018)
*
Roberto Bolle (2009-2019)
*
Sarah Lane
Sarah Lane (born August 3, 1984) is an American ballet dancer who was a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre (ABT). She served as a "dance double" for Natalie Portman in the 2010 film ''Black Swan''.
Early life
Lane was born in San Fr ...
(2004-2020)
Former soloists
* Kristi Boone (2000–2014)
* Ethan Brown (1981–2004)
* Gabrielle Brown (1980–1996)
* Sandra Brown (1987–2003)
*
Tener Brown
Tener Brown (or Carolyn Tener Brown, born 1960) is an American ballet coach of New Jersey Ballet. She is a former ballet dancer of American Ballet Theatre and actress.
Personal life and career
Brown, from Upper Montclair, New Jersey, started h ...
(1979–1986)
* Carmen Corella (1998–2007)
* Lykke Håkansson (2007–2010)
*
Erica Cornejo (1998–2007)
*
George de la Peña (1970s–1985)
*
Joaquín De Luz
Joaquín De Luz (born 1976, Madrid, Spain) is a Spanish ballet dancer. He was formerly with the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), and a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet (NYCB). He is currently director of Spanish National Dance Compa ...
(1997–2003)
*
Lisa de Ribere (1979–1984)
*
Melissa Hayden (1945–1947)
*
Yuriko Kajiya (2002–2014)
*
Elaine Kudo
* Anna Liceica (1996–2007)
* Carlos Lopez (2001–2011)
* Charles Maple (1972–1983)
* Jared Matthews (2002–2014)
* Simone Messmer (2002–2013)
* Monique Meunier (2002–2007)
* Carlos Molina (1998–2007)
*
Sascha Radetsky (1995–2014)
* Amy Rose (1979–1992)
* Gennadi Saveliev (1996–2012)
Former corps de ballet
* Susan Borree
* Maria Bystrova (2000–2010)
* Caroline Duprot (2009–2011)
* Tobin Eason (2002–2012)
* Aino Ettala (2010)
* Hezekiah C. Fairbank (1999–2000)
* Victoria (Born) Fornelli (1999–2000)
*
Jeffrey Golladay (2003–2012)
* Meaghan Hinkis (2010–2011)
* Carrie Jensen (2000–2009)
* Clinton Luckett (1992–2002)
* Ellizzette Duvall (1970–1973)
* Ilona McHugh (1997–2005)
* Patrick Ogle
* Joseph Phillips (2008–2013)
*Brendali Staana Espiritu
* Isaac Stappas (2000–2011)
* Sarawanee Tanatanit (2002–2008)
* Mary Mills Thomas (2008–2011)
* Melissa Thomas (2002–2009)
* Simon Wexler
* Jennifer Whalen
*
Katharine Wildish
Katharine "Kat" Wildish (born 21 September 1959) is a ballerina from Tampa, Florida, U.S. She danced with the New York City Ballet (1981–1983), American Ballet Theatre (1985–1987), and performed as a guest artist for a number of companies worl ...
(1985–1987)
* Renata Pavam (2002-)
* Bo Busby
Repertoire
Perhaps no other choreographer was as closely associated with ABT as the great British choreographer
Antony Tudor
Antony Tudor (born William Cook; 4 April 1908 – 19 April 1987) was an English ballet choreographer, teacher and dancer. He founded the London Ballet, and later the Philadelphia Ballet Guild in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., in the mid-195 ...
, who made his American debut with the company. The other continuous creative force was the legendary
Agnes de Mille
Agnes George de Mille (September 18, 1905 – October 7, 1993) was an American dancer and choreographer.
Early years
Agnes de Mille was born in New York City into a well-connected family of theater professionals. Her father William C. deMill ...
. She staged the majority of her ballet works with them. Many choreographers have mounted works especially for ABT, including
George Balanchine
George Balanchine (;
Various sources:
*
*
*
* born Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze; ka, გიორგი მელიტონის ძე ბალანჩივაძე; January 22, 1904 (O. S. January 9) – April 30, 1983) was ...
,
Adolph Bolm
Adolph Rudolphovich Bolm (russian: Адольф Рудольфович Больм; September 25, 1884 – April 16, 1951) was a Russian-born American ballet dancer and choreographer, of German descent.
Biography
Bolm graduated from the Russi ...
,
Michel Fokine
Michael Fokine, ''Mikhail Mikhaylovich Fokin'', group=lower-alpha ( – 22 August 1942) was a groundbreaking Imperial Russian choreographer and dancer.
Career Early years
Fokine was born in Saint Petersburg to a prosperous merchant an ...
,
Léonide Massine
Leonid Fyodorovich Myasin (russian: Леони́д Фёдорович Мя́син), better known in the West by the French transliteration as Léonide Massine (15 March 1979), was a Russian choreographer and ballet dancer. Massine created the w ...
, and
Bronislava Nijinska
Bronislava Nijinska (; pl, Bronisława Niżyńska ; russian: Бронисла́ва Фоми́нична Нижи́нская, Bronisláva Fomínična Nižínskaja; be, Браніслава Ніжынская, Branislava Nižynskaja; – Febr ...
. Other renowned choreographers who have worked at ABT include
Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins (born Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz; October 11, 1918 – July 29, 1998) was an American dancer, choreographer, film director, theatre director and producer who worked in classical ballet, on stage, film, and television.
Among his nu ...
,
Twyla Tharp
Twyla Tharp (; born July 1, 1941) is an American dancer, choreographer, and author who lives and works in New York City. In 1966 she formed the company Twyla Tharp Dance. Her work often uses classical music, jazz, and contemporary pop music.
Fr ...
, and
Alvin Ailey
Alvin Ailey Jr. (January 5, 1931 – December 1, 1989) was an American dancer, director, choreographer, and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT). He created AAADT and its affiliated Alvin Ailey American Dance Center ...
.
ABT's 1976 production of ''
The Nutcracker
''The Nutcracker'' ( rus, Щелкунчик, Shchelkunchik, links=no ) is an 1892 two-act ballet (""; russian: балет-феерия, link=no, ), originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaik ...
'' starring
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mikhail Nikolayevich Baryshnikov ( rus, Михаил Николаевич Барышников, p=mʲɪxɐˈil bɐ'rɨʂnʲɪkəf; lv, Mihails Barišņikovs; born January 28, 1948) is a Soviet Latvian-born Russian-American dancer, choreograp ...
and
Gelsey Kirkland was televised the following year and has become a broadcast classic.
The main season is held during the spring at New York City's
Metropolitan Opera House, with shorter seasons in the fall previously held at
New York City Center, now held at the
David H. Koch Theater. Performances of
Alexei Ratmansky's ''
The Nutcracker
''The Nutcracker'' ( rus, Щелкунчик, Shchelkunchik, links=no ) is an 1892 two-act ballet (""; russian: балет-феерия, link=no, ), originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaik ...
'' during the holiday season are held at the
Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The company tours extensively throughout United States and the world.
The current choreographer-in-residence for ABT is
Alexei Ratmansky.
Schools and programs
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
The
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre (ABT/JKO School) is the associate school of American Ballet Theatre located at 890 Broadway, within the Flatiron District of Manhattan, New York City. The school comprises a children' ...
at American Ballet Theatre (ABT/JKO School) is the associate school of American Ballet Theatre located within the
Flatiron District of Manhattan, New York City. The school comprises a Children's Division for ages 4 to 12, a Pre-Professional Division for ages 12 to 18, and the preparatory program Studio Company for ages 16 to 20. Cynthia Harvey, a former dancer with ABT, serves as the school's artistic director.
Studio Company
ABT Studio Company, formerly known as ABT II, is a small company of 12 young dancers, ranging from ages 16 to 20, handpicked by ABT.
It is the top level of the American Ballet Theatre training ladder and is currently an extension of the ABT JKO school. These dancers are trained in the program to join ABT's main company or other leading professional companies, and the program is described by ABT as "a bridge between ballet training and professional performance".
Project Plié
Project
Plié is a diversity initiative launched in 2013 by
Rachel Moore, who was then ABT's executive director and CEO. Following her departure, the project was overseen by artistic director
Kevin McKenzie and Mary Jo Ziesel, ABT director of education and training. The program was inspired by ABT principal dancer
Misty Copeland, and aims to "increase racial and ethnic representation in ballet and diversify America's ballet companies".
The initiative is made up of a combination of partnerships within the community and within the industry in addition to scholarships and opportunities for exposure for children of color.
Annually, as of 2013, Project Plié has awarded scholarships
to young people ranging from ages 9 to 18 including to the ABT/JKO School, ABT's summer intensive programs and ABT's Young Dancer Workshop.
See also
*''
A Dancer's Life'', a 1972 documentary film about the company
*
List of productions of Swan Lake derived from its 1895 revival
References
Notes
Further viewing
*
External links
*
American Ballet Theatre entryin the ''
Encyclopædia Britannica
The (Latin for "British Encyclopædia") is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia. It is published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.; the company has existed since the 18th century, although it has changed ownership various t ...
''
American Ballet Theatre entryin the ''
Columbia Encyclopedia
The ''Columbia Encyclopedia'' is a one-volume encyclopedia produced by Columbia University Press and, in the last edition, sold by the Gale Group. First published in 1935, and continuing its relationship with Columbia University
Columbi ...
''
Archive footage of ABT (then Ballet Theatre) performing ''Interplay'' in 1949 at Jacob's PillowArchive footage of ABT (then Ballet Theatre) performing ''Fancy Free'' in 1949 at Jacob's PillowAmerican Ballet Theatre at Google Cultural InstituteBallet Foundation collection of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and Ballet Theatre photographs, 1920s-1980s held by the Dance Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
{{Authority control
Ballet companies in the United States
History of ballet
Performing groups established in 1937
1939 establishments in New York City
Dance companies in New York City