In a 1946 letter, Kirstein stated, "The only justification I have is to enable Balanchine to do exactly what he wants to do in the way he wants to do it." He served as the company's General Director from 1946 to 1989, developing and sustaining it by his organizational and fundraising abilities. Its success was marked by its move to the New York State Theater, now
David H. Koch Theater, designed by
Philip Johnson to Balanchine's specifications. City Ballet became the first ballet company in the United States to have two permanent venue engagements: one at
Lincoln Center's
David H. Koch Theater on 63rd Street in
Manhattan, and another at the
Saratoga Performing Arts Center, in
Saratoga Springs, New York. The
School of American Ballet (S.A.B.), which Balanchine founded, is the training school of the company. After the company's move to the State Theater, Balanchine's creativity as a choreographer flourished. He created works that were the basis of the company's repertory until his death in 1983. He worked closely with choreographer
Jerome Robbins, who resumed his connection with the company in 1969 after having produced works for Broadway. NYCB still has the largest repertoire by far of any American ballet company. It often stages 60 ballets or more in its winter and spring seasons at Lincoln Center each year, and 20 or more in its summer season in Saratoga Springs. City Ballet has performed
The Nutcracker,
Romeo and Juliet, ''
A Midsummer Night's Dream'', and many more. City Ballet has trained and developed many great dancers since its formation. Many dancers with already developed reputations have also joined the ballet as principal dancers: • Merrill Ashley •
Mikhail Baryshnikov •
Ashley Bouder •
Jacques d'Amboise •
Suzanne Farrell •
Melissa Hayden •
Sterling Hyltin • Jillana •
Allegra Kent •
Gelsey Kirkland •
Tanaquil LeClercq •
Nicholas Magallanes •
Peter Martins •
Nilas Martins •
Patricia McBride •
Sara Mearns •
Monique Meunier •
Arthur Mitchell •
Francisco Moncion • Kyra Nichols •
Tiler Peck •
Unity Phelan •
Teresa Reichlen •
Jock Soto •
Maria Tallchief •
Edward Villella Salute to Italy In 1960, Balanchine mounted City Ballet's
Salute to Italy with premieres of
Monumentum pro Gesualdo and
Variations from Don Sebastian (called the
Donizetti Variations since 1961), as well as performances of his
La Sonnambula and
Lew Christensen's
Con Amore. The performance was repeated in 1968.
Stravinsky Festival , pre-renovation In 1972, Balanchine offered an eight-day tribute to the composer, his great collaborator, who had died the year before. His programs included twenty-two new works of his own dances, plus works by choreographers
Todd Bolender,
John Clifford,
Lorca Massine, Jerome Robbins,
Richard Tanner, and
John Taras, as well as repertory ballets by Balanchine and Robbins. Balanchine created
Symphony in Three Movements,
Duo Concertant, and
Violin Concerto for the occasion. He and Robbins co-choreographed and performed in
Pulcinella. Balanchine had produced an earlier Stravinsky festival in 1937 as balletmaster of the
American Ballet while engaged by the
Metropolitan Opera. The composer conducted the April 27th premiere of
Card Party.
Ravel Festival In 1975, Balanchine paid his respects to the French composer
Maurice Ravel with a two-week
Hommage à Ravel. Balanchine, Robbins,
Jacques d'Amboise, and Taras made sixteen new ballets for the occasion. Repertory ballets were performed as well. High points included Balanchine's
Le Tombeau de Couperin and Robbins'
Mother Goose.
Tschaikovsky Festival In 1981, Balanchine planned a two-week NYCB festival honoring the Russian composer
Peter Ilyitch Tschaikovsky. Balanchine,
Joseph Duell, d'Amboise,
Peter Martins, Robbins, and Taras created twelve new dances. In addition to presenting these and repertory ballets, Balanchine re-choreographed his
Mozartiana from 1933.
Philip Johnson and
John Burgee's stage setting of translucent tubing was designed to be hung and lit in different architectural configurations throughout the entire festival.
Stravinsky Centennial Celebration In 1982, Balanchine organized a centennial celebration in honor of his long-time collaborator
Igor Stravinsky, during which the City Ballet performed twenty-five ballets set to the composer's music. Balanchine made three new ballets,
Tango,
Élégie, and
Persephone, and a new version of
Variations. The choreographer died the following year. Balanchine's 50th Anniversary Celebration was held by the company in 2002.
New York State Theater 20-Year Celebration On April 26, 1984, NYCB celebrated the 20th anniversary of the New York State Theater. The program started with
Igor Stravinsky's
Fanfare for a New Theater, followed by Stravinsky's arrangement of
The Star-Spangled Banner. The ballets included three of Balanchine's works,
Serenade,
Stravinsky Violin Concerto, and
Sonatine; and Jerome Robbins'
Afternoon of a Faun. The performers included Maria Calegari, Kyra Nichols,
Heather Watts,
Leonid Kozlov, Afshin Mofid,
Patricia McBride,
Helgi Tomasson,
Karin von Aroldingen,
Lourdes Lopez, Bart Cook, and Joseph Duell.
Peter Martins After Balanchine's death in 1983, Peter Martins was selected as balletmaster of the company. After 30 years, Martins was judged to have maintained the New York City Ballet's financial security and the musicality and performance level of the dancers, but he has not emphasized the Balanchine style to the extent that many observers expected he would. Martins retired from his position in 2018. and excerpts from: •
Ecstatic Orange •
Jewels •
Emeralds •
Rubies •
Square Dance •
Interplay •
Dances at a Gathering •
Glass Pieces •
Union Jack •
Stars and Stripes •
Mercurial Manoeuvres •
Symphony in C On June 14, 2009, the second ''Dancers' Choice
benefit was held at a special evening performance. The program included Sleeping Beauty and Union Jack''. The program was supervised by principal dancer Jenifer Ringer. == Programming ==