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WHAT'S NEW
Plato Andros (1921 - 2008)
October 7, 2008
We celebrate the life of Plato Andros
(Dick Andros' brother),
who passed away in Norman, OK on September 22, 2008.
Andros is best remembered for his award-winning days
in college and professional football.
MORE...
Irina Baronova (1919 - 2008)
July 4, 2008
We celebrate the life of Irina Baronova,
who passed passed away at her home in Australia
on June 28, 2008. Baronova was the last surviving
member of the Ballet Russes' "Baby Ballerinas"
(along with
Tamara Toumanova and
Tatiana Riabouchinska)
who became stars performing works by a young George Balanchine.
MORE...
Coppélia and the Demise of the Paris Opera Ballet
May 14, 2008
Every ballet goer has seen Coppélia or at least
heard about it. It's a fun ballet that encompasses
many forms of dance: character, and classical ballet.
It is a clever comment on the evils of infatuation.
What is not known about Coppélia is; it was one of
the last attempts to save ballet in Paris from oblivion.
MORE...
Marie-Jeanne (1920 - 2008)
January 6, 2008
We celebrate the life of Marie-Jeanne who
passed away on January 3, 2008 in Austin, TX.
The NYC native studied at the School of American Ballet
and performed with a number of companies including
the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and the predecessor
companies to the New York City Ballet. She is probably
best remembered for her work with
George Balanchine.
MORE...
Michael Kidd (1919 - 2007)
December 24, 2007
We celebrate the life of dancer and choreographer Michael Kidd,
who passed away on December 23, 2007 at his home in Los Angeles.
The Brooklyn native began his career with American Ballet and
Ballet Caravan (predecessors of the New York City Ballet) before
joining Ballet Theatre as a soloist. Kidd later choreographed on
Broadway and in Hollywood, ultimately earning five Tony awards
in almost a half century of work.
MORE...
A League of His Own
November 19, 2007
In mid-20th-century Oklahoma, the Andros name was well-known for
two brothers who achieved fame in the athletic arena. But many folks
did not realize there was a third brother, our own Mr. Andros.
The Oklahoma Journal Record featured a nice article by Max Nichols,
Youngest Andros Brother Finds League of His Own.
MORE...
Igor Moiseyev (1906 - 2007)
November 5, 2007
We celebrate the life of Igor Moiseyev, the famed
Russian choreographer who passed away November 3, 2007.
Moiseyev distilled folk styles from many different countries
into a unique form of theatrical dance that was wildly popular
in the mid-20th century. The Moiseyev Dance Company’s NYC debut
in 1958 at the Metropolitan Opera House was presented by impressario
Sol Hurok and, as the first
U.S. visit by a major Soviet dance troupe, began a new era of cultural
exchange.
MORE...
Glen Tetley (1926 - 2007)
March 27, 2007
We celebrate the life of Glen Tetley, who passed away on January 10, 2007.
Tetley worked both in the worlds of ballet and modern dance, at one
time he was a performer both with American Ballet Theatre and the Martha Graham
Company. Tetley also worked extensively with Hanya Holm and his later
work as a choreographer was a pioneering (and controversial) fusion of
modern dance and ballet.
MORE...
Ruthanna Boris (1918 - 2007)
February 7, 2007
We celebrate the life of Ruthanna Boris, who passed away on January 5, 2007.
Boris performed with the Ballet Russes, American Ballet, Ballet Caravan
and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. Boris later went on to work as a
choreographer, administrator and educator.
MORE...
Words
January 15, 2007
Words often have powerful, subconscious meanings that we often fail
to consider when these words become a part of our daily vocabulary.
In the arts, casually-used words and phrases often reveal subtle deceptions
upon deeper reflection. What's in a name?
Consider these...
Melissa Hayden (1923 - 2006)
August 9, 2006
We celebrate the life of Melissa Hayden,
who passed away on August 8, 2006 at her home in Winston-Salem, NC.
Over 80 and Still Teaching
May 18, 2006
This is a continuation of an earlier article I wrote, 60 and Still Counting,
which appeared in Dance and the Arts magazine twenty years ago.
Who knew I would still be teaching at 80!?
MORE...
Pierina Legnani (1863 - 1923)
April 23, 2006
The title "Prima Ballerina Assoluta" has only been given to two
ballerinas at the Maryinsky Theatre. The first was an Italian, Pierina Legnani.
Her greatest success came in Russia, when she introduced 32 fouette turns in
her performance of CINDERELLA, which she had done the year before in London.
MORE...
Virginia Zucchi (1847-1930)
April 23, 2006
Virginia Zucchi studied with Carlo Blasis and Lepri in Milan,
and in 1866 started dancing in Italy and other European countries.
Almost 20 years passed before she came to St. Petersburg in Russia.
Her dazzling virtuosity attracted the attention of the Tzar and he
commanded her to dance for him - insisting that she dance at the
Maryinsky Theatre. While dancing at the Maryinsky Theatre, she became
very influential, perfecting the technique of the St. Petersburg School.
MORE...
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Andros on Ballet is a collection of articles about ballet history and
classical ballet technique. Dick
Andros is a ballet teacher and writer based in New York City
that provides this site to share the knowledge and stories he has
accumulated through his long career as a dancer and teacher.
Biographical essays on significant figures in ballet history, including
stories from personal experiences with many of these figures. An
alphabetical listing is given in the navigation bar to the left, or you
can click here for a historical timeline.
Articles on the early history of ballet, major trends in the
development of modern ballet and the formation of the
major American companies.
An overview of (Cecchetti) classical ballet vocabulary. Includes
a variety of pictures and animations.
Guide to Bibliographic Citation