New York Theatre Ballet

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New York Theatre Ballet or NYTB was founded in 1978 by Diana Byer, who became its artistic director. Dedicated to the principles of the Cecchetti-Diaghilev tradition, the company both reprises classic masterworks and produces original ballets.

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New York Theatre Ballet has performed works by choreographers including Richard Alston, Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Gemma Bond, August Bournonville, Michel Fokine, David Gordon, José Limón, John Taras, and Antony Tudor.[ citation needed ] The company tours its family and adult programs both nationally and abroad, and has become the most widely seen chamber ballet company in the United States.

Ballet mistresses

The British ballet teacher Margaret Craske was ballet mistress for New York Theatre Ballet from its foundation until late in her life.[ citation needed ] Craske was succeeded by Sallie Wilson, a student of hers, [1] who was ballet mistress [2] until 2008.[ citation needed ] Wilson staged works by Antony Tudor for New York Theatre Ballet [3] and also choreographed her own pieces.

Project LIFT

New York Theatre Ballet runs LIFT, a community program to give underprivileged children the chance to learn to dance. [4] [5] [6] [7] Steven Melendez, a former Project LIFT student, is the current director of the project. [4] [8]

Eviction and relocation

In the summer of 2013 New York Theatre Ballet began a fight against eviction [9] from its home of over 30 years in the historic Parish House of the Madison Avenue Baptist Church at 30 East 31st Street in Manhattan, after the building was sold to a private developer. [7] [10] The eviction generated interest as far away as Serbia, [11] however, in early 2015, the company moved into the space formerly occupied by Richard Foreman's Ontological-Hysteric Theater in St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery in the East Village. [12]

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References

  1. Dunning, Jennifer (February 23, 1990). "Margaret Craske Is Dead at 97; Directed Met Opera Ballet School". The New York Times . Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  2. Anderson, Jack (April 29, 2008). "Sallie Wilson, Dramatic Ballerina, Dies at 76". The New York Times . Archived February 10, 2014.
  3. Dunning, Jennifer (April 14, 2008). "Rare Revival of Tudor's Take on Young Love". The New York Times . Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Mallozzi, Vincent M. (June 26, 2009). "Small Steps, Big Dreams". The New York Times . Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  5. "National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards" (PDF). Coming Up Taller Report 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  6. Glynn, Eileen (June 2013). "How New York Theatre Ballet Helps Children Soar". Dance Studio Life. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  7. 1 2 Lee, Felicia R. (September 5, 2013). "New York Theater Ballet Is Seeking New Home After Building Is Sold". The New York Times . Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  8. "Projects Together". Manhattan Bride. Fall / Winter: 156. 2013.
  9. Escoda, Carla (September 11, 2013). "A Treasured New York Icon Fights to Survive: New York Theatre Ballet Evicted". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  10. Schwab, Kristin (January 2014). "Dance Matters: Finding Space for Dance". Dance Magazine . Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  11. Walker, Mike (September 2013). "A Tale Of Ballet In Two Cities". InSerbia Today. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  12. Harss, Marina (February 13, 2015). "New York Theater Ballet Moves Its Relevés Downtown". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved November 10, 2015.