© 1983 Martha Swope

(1904–83). Associated primarily with the New York City Ballet Company and its predecessors from 1934, George Balanchine became known as the most influential ballet choreographer in the 20th century. His more than 100 choreographic works developed a style unique in the world of dance.

Born Georgy Melitonovich Balanchivadze in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Jan. 22, 1904, Balanchine was the son of composer Meliton Balanchivadze. He studied at the Imperial School of Ballet and at the Petrograd Conservatory, both in St. Petersburg. In 1924 he toured England, France, and Germany with the Soviet State Dancers. From 1925 to 1929 he was ballet master for Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. In this capacity he choreographed Barabau (1925) and nine other ballets. Two of them are still performed: Apollo (1928) and Le Fils prodigue (The Prodigal Son, 1929).

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

In 1929 Balanchine became ballet master for other European companies. He moved to the United States in 1934. His work so impressed the influential American dance enthusiast Lincoln Kirstein that Balanchine was invited in 1934 to organize the School of American Ballet. This became the leading ballet school in the United States and spawned a succession of companies that led to the founding of one that in 1948 became known as the New York City Ballet Company. In 1964 the company became resident at the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center, which was built to Ba lanchine’s specifications.

A prolific creator in a variety of styles, Balanchine was responsible for most of the company’s extensive repertoire. Almost every leading ballet company in the world has produced at least one Balanchine work, and he also choreographed for musical comedy, opera, television, and motion pictures.

Balanchine had a special artistic relationship with Igor Stravinsky. He choreographed many of the Russian-American composer’s works, ranging from Le Chant du rossignol (Song of the Nightingale) in 1925 for the Ballets Russes to Symphony in Three Movements, Violin Concerto, Duo concertante, and Pulcinella (all 1972) for his New York City troupe.