Choreographic Biographies
George Balanchine (1904-1983), Valse Fantasie (1953 & 1967 versions)
George Balanchine, regarded as the foremost contemporary choreographer in the world of ballet, came to the United States in late 1933 following an early career throughout Europe. The son of a composer, Balanchine early in life gained a knowledge of music that far exceeds that of most of his fellow choreographers. Collaborating with Lincoln Kirstein, Balanchine co-founded the School of American Ballet in 1934 and formed the American Ballet in 1935. The American Ballet evolved into Ballet Society in 1946 and then premièred as the New York City Ballet in 1948, which serves as the company’s name to this day.
Balanchine’s authoritative catalogue of works lists 465 and has been the recipient of several awards. In 1978 he was one of five recipients of the first Kennedy Center Honors, presented by President Carter at the White House. He was also presented by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark with a Knighthood of the Order of Dannebrog, First Class. In 1980, Balanchine was honored by the National Society of Arts and Letters with its Gold Medal of Merit and by the Austrian government with its Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Letters, First Class. In 1983, Balanchine was granted the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor that can be conferred upon a civilian in the United States.
President Ronald Reagan praised Balanchine's genius, saying he had "inspired millions with his stage choreography ... and amazed a diverse population through his talents."
Bronislava Nijinska (1891-1972), Les Noces
The daughter of professional dancers and the younger sister of the renowned Vaslav Nijinsky, Nijinska began her ballet training at the Imperial School of Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she and her brother trained for seven years. Upon graduating, Nijinska became a dancer with the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg. In 1910, she was invited by Sergei Diaghilev to join his company, the Ballets Russes, in Paris, where she danced for five years rising quickly from the corps de ballet to a soloist. Nijinska built her reputation under choreographer Mikhail Fokine in such innovative productions as Carnival and Petrouchka by Igor Stravinsky. In 1913 she left the Ballets Russes and returned to Russia, where she remained through World War I.
In 1921, Nijinska immigrated from Russia to Paris. At that time, she was again invited by Sergei Diaghilev to join the Ballets Russes, but this time as a choreographer. From 1921 to 1925 she choreographed five highly innovative ballets for Diaghilev’s company, including Renard and Les Noces by Igor Stravinsky.
From 1927 to 1929, Nijinska worked for various ballet companies in France and from 1932 to 1934, directed her own ballet company, Polish Ballets. In 1935, Nijinska made her film debut as a choreographer in Max Reinhardt’s version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
In 1938, Nijinska moved to America settling, in Los Angeles. There, she opened her own school of dance and established herself as a reputable teacher and choreographer, working with such companies as the American Ballet Theatre and the Royal Ballet. Nijinska remained in America through the remainder of her life, leaving a legacy of choreography that is part of dance company repertoires around the world.
Michael Vernon, Jeux
Michael Vernon studied at the Royal Ballet School in London with such legendary teachers as Dame Ninette de Valois and Leonide Massine. He performed with the Royal Ballet, the Royal Opera Ballet, and the London Festival Ballet before coming to New York in 1976 to join the Eglevsky Ballet as ballet master and resident choreographer. He was artistic director of the Long Island-based company from 1989 to 1996.
He has choreographed numerous works for ballet companies in the United States and worldwide. Mikhail Baryshnikov commissioned him to choreograph In a Country Garden for American Ballet Theatre (ABT). His solo S'Wonderful was danced by ABT principal Cynthia Harvey in the presence of President and Mrs. Reagan and shown nationwide on CBS television. He also worked as the assistant choreographer on Ken Russell's movie Valentino, starring Rudolph Nureyev and Leslie Caron.
Vernon has taught at StepsNYC for many years, working with dancers from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and many other high-profile companies. He is an integral part of the Manhattan Dance Project, which brings NY-style master classes to all regions of the country. He has been involved with the Ballet Program at Chautauqua Institute since 1995, regularly teaches and mentors dancers for Ballet Hawaii in Honolulu, and is the artistic director for Ballet School of Stamford in Connecticut.
Vernon has been company teacher for ABT, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, and Alvin Ailey Company and School, as well as guest teacher for The Julliard School.
