John Taras

John Taras ( born April 18, 1919 in New York City; † April 2, 2004 ibid ) was a choreographer and ballet master.

Life

John Taras, the son of Ukrainian immigrants, began his career with nine years with a Ukrainian folk dance. At the age of 16 he began to study classical ballet. One of his teachers was the famous dancer and choreographer Michel Fokine.

In 1939, he first worked with George Balanchine, as he danced at the World's Fair for the Ford Motor Company show. In 1956 he choreographed in honor of the wedding of Prince Rainier of Monaco with Grace Kelly 's ballet " Fanfare for a Prince " at the Opera of Monte Carlo.

After working for various projects, especially in Europe, he returned in 1959 returned to New York and became the assistant and ballet master George Balanchine of the New York City Ballet. He was artistic director of the ballet of the Paris Opera (1969-1970) and artistic director of the Berlin Ballet. From 1984 to 1990 he was an " associate director " of the American Ballet Theatre.