Why Is George Balanchine Considered the Greatest Ballet Choreographer of All Time?

Ballet

George Balanchine is considered one of the greatest ballet choreographers of all time. He was a prolific artist whose contributions to the world of ballet are still felt today.

Born in Russia in 1904, Balanchine began his career at the age of nine when he was accepted into the Imperial Ballet School in St. Petersburg. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a soloist and then a maestro choreographer with the Mariinsky Ballet. His choreography was innovative and daring, pushing boundaries in both style and technique.

In 1933, Balanchine moved to Paris and started a new company, Les Ballets 1933, which gave him an opportunity to explore his own ideas about modern ballet. He created some of his most famous works during this time, such as Apollo and Le Train Bleu. These ballets showcased his unique movement style which combined classical ballet technique with an emphasis on speed and athleticism.

When World War II began, Balanchine moved to America where he founded the School of American Ballet which trained dancers for his new company – The New York City Ballet (NYCB). The NYCB quickly became one of the most influential ballet companies in the world with its innovative productions that blended classical technique with modern influences from jazz and contemporary music.

Throughout his career, Balanchine created more than 400 ballets that were performed around the world. These ballets included such classics as Serenade, The Four Temperaments and Agon which are still performed by many companies today. His works were also groundbreaking for their combination of music, movement and story-telling that pushed boundaries at a time when most ballets were based on traditional stories or folklore.

Balanchine’s influence on dance can still be seen today with many modern choreographers citing him as an influence in their own work. His legacy lives on through the countless dancers who have been inspired by him throughout history and continue to be inspired by him today.

Conclusion: George Balanchine is considered one of the greatest ballet choreographers of all time due to his innovation and groundbreaking approach to creating ballets that combined classical technique with modern influences from jazz and contemporary music while pushing boundaries at a time when most ballets were based on traditional stories or folklore. His influence can still be seen today through his works which are still performed by many companies around the world as well as by modern choreographers who cite him as an inspiration for their own work.