|
|
Dictionary definition: American Ballet Theatre
- Article from:
- The Oxford Dictionary of Dance
- Author:
Copyright© The Oxford Dictionary of Dance 2000, originally published by Oxford University Press 2000. (Hide copyright information)
|
American Ballet Theatre.
American ballet company. Originally known as Ballet Theatre, it was founded in 1940 by several ex-members of the Mordkin Ballet. With the financial backing of
Chase
, who became co-director with Smith in 1945 and under the initial direction of
Pleasant
it had its debut on 11 Jan. 1940 at New York Radio City Center Theater, in a season which featured an impressive range of works from Fokine's
Les Sylphides
and Dolin's
Giselle
to Tudor's
Jardin aux lilas
and
Dark Elegies
, and six premieres including Loring's
The Great American Goof
. The company's aim was to preserve important works from the past as well as develop a strong new repertory and during the 1940s it was ...