Balanchine, George (1904-1983)

Russian-born US choreographer. After leaving the USSR in 1924, he worked with Diaghilev in France. Moving to the USA in 1933, he became a major influence on dance, starting the New York City Ballet in 1948. He was the most influential 20th-century choreographer of ballet in the USA. He developed an ‘American Neoclassic’ dance style and made the New York City Ballet one of the world's great companies. His ballets are usually plotless and are performed in practice clothes to modern music. He also choreographed dances for five Hollywood films.

His many works include Apollon Musagète (1928) and The Prodigal Son (1929) for Diaghilev; Serenade (1934); several works with music by Stravinsky, such as Agon (1957) and Duo Concertante (1972); and Broadway musicals, such as On Your Toes (1936) and The Boys from Syracuse (1938).