2. PERSONAL LIFE
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia,
He was a son of a composer.
- This knowledge of music early, gave him an advantage over his fellow
choreographers.
He began piano lessons at five, while continuing to dance. Such extensive
musical training made it possible for Balanchine as a choreographer to
communicate with a composer of the stature of Stravinsky; it also gave him the
ability to make piano reductions of orchestral scores, an invaluable aid in
translating music into dance.
3. HIS LEGACY
He co-founded and was the head of the School of American
Ballet in New York City
He co-founded the New York City Ballet which is one of the
prominent dance companies today
He brought up the standard of American ballet by emphasizing
balance, control, precision, and ease of movement.
5. QUOTES
“I don't want people who want to dance; I want people who have
to dance”
“See the music, hear the dance.”
“Dancing is music made visible.”
“Dancers are instruments, like a piano the choreographer plays.”
“Most ballet teachers in the United States are terrible. If they were
in medicine, everyone would be poisoned.”
