American Ballet Theatre

Description

At its inception in 1939, the aim was to build up a repertoire that consisted of the best ballets of the past and to promote the creation of new works by talented choreographers. Under the direction of Lucia Chase and Oliver Smith, this goal was achieved in the 1940s to 1980s. Along with the New York City Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet, the ABT is today one of the major ballet companies of the United States. The ABT occurs in New York at the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center.

The repertoire but includes all full-length ballets of the 19th century, such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Giselle, innovative pieces from the early 20th century, such as Apollo, Les Sylphides and contemporary pieces such as Airs, Push Comes to Shove and Duets.

From 1980 to 1989 Mikhail Baryshnikov took over the position of artistic director. From 1990 to 1992, the ABT was led by Jane Herrmann and Oliver Smith. Since October 1992, the task of the former dancer Kevin McKenzie is perceived.

Since the establishment of the most important choreographers of their time worked on the ABT, among others: George Balanchine, Michel Fokine, Massine Léonide, Bronislava Nijinska, Jerome Robbins, John Taras, Antony Tudor and Twyla Tharp. Many of them developed choreographies, which were first performed with the ABT.

Well-known dancers

In the past,

  • Fernando Bujones
  • Irina Dvorovenko
  • Alessandra Ferri
  • Alexander Godunov
  • Martine van Hamel
  • Melissa Hayden
  • Robert La Fosse
  • Susan Jaffe
  • Natalia Makarova
  • Vladimir Malakhov
  • Kevin McKenzie
  • Antony Tudor

Current

  • Maxim Beloserkovsky
  • Roberto Bolle
  • Angel Corella
  • Herman Cornejo
  • Marcelo Gomes
  • David Hallberg
Kevin McKenzie (dancer) Ivan Vasiliev
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