May 2020 was to have been a special month for the American Ballet Theatre – the time to celebrate its 80th anniversary. American Ballet Theatre – known as Ballet Theatre from 1939 until 1957 – was founded in 1939 by Lucia Chase and Richard Pleasant and its first performance was on 11 January 1940. Chase was its director, together with Oliver Smith, from 1945 to 1980. Mikhail … [Read more...] about American Ballet Theatre: Together Tonight – an 80th Anniversary YouTube celebration
American Ballet Theatre
[VIDEO] Natalia Makarova’s return to dance with the Kirov Ballet in 1988
In London in 1970 the 29-year-old prima ballerina Natalia Makarova, performing with Leningrad's Kirov Ballet (now St Petersburg's Mariinsky Ballet) defected to the West. Then in the summer of 1988 at the packed 3,200-seat Business Design Centre in London Makarova danced again with her former company, even though her career was ending (she had announced her retirement in … [Read more...] about [VIDEO] Natalia Makarova’s return to dance with the Kirov Ballet in 1988
Erik Bruhn and Carla Fracci – Romeo and Juliet, 1966
Erik Bruhn choreographed a version of Romeo and Juliet, which he and Carla Fracci danced with the Rome Opera Ballet in 1966. Between performances, they recorded the balcony scene, which today has been uploaded to YouTube for the first time. A year later, the two danced Bruhn's version with the American Ballet Theatre in New York. https://youtu.be/N02YoCdSei4 In Fracci's … [Read more...] about Erik Bruhn and Carla Fracci – Romeo and Juliet, 1966
David Hallberg becomes new head of Australian Ballet – Farewell gala in 2021
David Hallberg will become the new artistic director of the Australian Ballet, taking over from former principal dancer David McAllister, who has directed the company for two decades. Hallberg's last performances as a dancer will be in 2021, when he will fulfil previous commitments, culminating in a farewell gala with American Ballet Theatre. He spent many months … [Read more...] about David Hallberg becomes new head of Australian Ballet – Farewell gala in 2021
Alexei Ratmansky’s Of Love and Rage, a co-production between National Ballet of Canada and ABT
Alexei Ratmansky’s new full-length work, Of Love and Rage, will be a co-production between the National Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Of Love and Rage is based on Callirhoe, one of the earliest novels ever written, set in ancient Greece. The epic tale tells the story of legendary beauty Callirhoe and her lover Chaereus and the daunting obstacles they must navigate. … [Read more...] about Alexei Ratmansky’s Of Love and Rage, a co-production between National Ballet of Canada and ABT