Why Did Kirstein and Balanchine Start NYC Ballet?

Ballet

In the 1940s, Lincoln Kirstein and George Balanchine had a vision to create a world-class ballet company in the United States. They saw potential in New York City and, two decades later, their dream became reality when they founded the New York City Ballet. The NYC Ballet is now one of the most renowned ballet companies in the world, acclaimed for its innovation, artistry, and excellence.

Kirstein and Balanchine were both passionate about ballet and shared a strong dedication to their craft. Kirstein was an avid patron of the arts who was born into a wealthy family with ties to the New England elite.

He was educated at Harvard University and had extensive experience in theater production and dance, having previously founded the Harvard Society for Contemporary Art. Meanwhile, Balanchine was born in Russia and trained at Mariinsky Theatre under Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. He was known as one of the greatest choreographers of all time and had worked on several ballets prior to joining forces with Kirstein.

Kirstein and Balanchine wanted to create a dance company that would bring together both classical ballet technique as well as modern choreography. They envisioned an organization that would provide dancers with training from top professionals in order to produce outstanding performances; this led them to found the School of American Ballet (SAB) alongside their new company.

Through SAB, Kirstein and Balanchine could ensure that young dancers would be taught by esteemed teachers from around the world. They also saw SAB as an opportunity for aspiring dancers from all backgrounds to gain access to high-quality training.

Ultimately, Kirstein and Balanchine wanted to provide audiences with remarkable experiences through their productions at NYCB. As two of the most influential figures in American ballet history, they created an institution that has had a lasting impact on both classical ballet culture as well as contemporary dance.

Conclusion:

Kirstein and Balanchine founded NYCB in order to create a world-class ballet company that combined classical technique with modern choreography techniques while also providing access to high-quality training for aspiring dancers from all backgrounds. Their legacy lives on today through their incredible contributions towards establishing NYCB as one of the top ballet companies in the world.