CHOREOGRAPHERS

GEORGE BALANCHINE (1904-1983), The Four Temperaments

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.

George 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 their 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.”

TWYLA THARP (1941), Sweet Fields

Twyla Tharp was born in Portland, IN, and at age 10, moved with her family to California, where she studied dance at the Vera Lynn School of Dance. While attending Barnard College in New York City, she began dancing with Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham. Upon graduation, she joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company and, in 1965, formed her own company, Twyla Tharp Dance. With this company, Tharp began putting her signature on choreography, combining ballet technique with natural movements like running, walking, and skipping. While modern dance had historically aspired to high seriousness and spirituality, Tharp’s work was humorous and edgy.

In 1988, Twyla Tharp Dance merged with American Ballet Theatre, where Tharp created more than a dozen works, including Push Comes to Shove featuring Mikhail Baryshnikov. Since the 1980s, Tharp choreographed pieces for many major ballet and modern companies including The Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet, New York City Ballet, The Boston Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance, and The Martha Graham Dance Company.

In 1991, Tharp reunited her company, Twyla Tharp Dance, with Mikhail Baryshnikov joining the group in a program entitled Cutting Up. The work enjoyed one of the most successful tours in the history of contemporary dance. In 2002, Tharp and Billy Joel’s Tony award-winning musical, Movin’ Out premièred on Broadway and continues to tour the world today.

Tharp has created more than 135 pieces, choreographed for five Hollywood movies, directed and choreographed two Broadway shows, and written two books. She is the recipient of two Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, 17 honorary doctorates, the 2004 National Medal of Arts, and is a 2008 Kennedy Center Honoree. Tharp’s works are among the most sought-after pieces and are performed by major dance companies around the world.

MICHAEL VERNON, Endless Night

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 New York 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.