“A ballet is a movement in time and space, a living moment. Like a hothouse flower, it blooms, then dies. A ballet is life.”
The Mystical Stanley Williams
Stanley Williams was a teacher with a renowned following, with many dance stars citing his teaching as transformative for their artistry.
Join us for two events on April 28 at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in Lincoln Center. Come to our afternoon event, at 1PM, to get a live demonstration of Stanley’s classes, led by Peter Stark and demonstrated by a New York City Ballet dancer, and at 6PM learn more about Stanley from a panel discussion between Peter Boal, Helgi Tómasson and Ricky Weiss, moderated by Marina Harss.
Reserve your space today!
Celebrating Maria Tallchief
We celebrated the 100th birthday of Maria Tallchief with an exclusive interview with Maria’s protégé, Heléne Alexopoulos. Here, she shares memories of her time working with Maria and how it informed her time working in the NYCB.
Happy Birthday, Mr. B!
The GBF is honored to share this rare peek into history with an archival audio recording of the opening night speeches from the 1972 Stravinsky Festival at the New York City Ballet. Listen to remarks made by Balanchine and Lincoln and a special treat of the New York City Ballet’s orchestra, led by Robert Irving, playing Fanfare for a New Theater and Greeting Prelude: Happy Birthday.
Worldwide Balanchine Performance Map
The GBF has created an invaluable resource for those who hope to see Balanchine works in live performances worldwide. Our interactive Balanchine performance map allows you to filter by ballet, company or month to view what dance companies have planned performances of Balanchine repertory in the coming year. Each listing includes a link to the performance details.
The constant revelation of beauty
“An hour and five minutes of sheer waltzing,” Liebeslieder Walzer is one of Balanchine’s epic works to the music of Brahms. Interpreters Patricia McBride and Bart Cook taught and coached principal dancers Unity Phelan and Roman Mejia the roles originated by Melissa Hayden and Jonathan Watts on October 7, 2024.
A mystic sensibility on display in La Valse
Though the role of the heroine in La Valse was originally created for Tanaquil Le Clercq, Balanchine chose the young Patricia McBride for the part when it returned to the stage. Coached by Balanchine and Le Clercq, McBride joined Adam Luders on September 23, 2024 to coach NYCB dancers Indiana Woodward, Taylor Stanley and Chun Wai Chan in the Seduction Scene from La Valse.
Swan Lake with Adam Luders and Kay Mazzo
On September 16, 2024, Kay Mazzo and Adam Luders coached excerpts from Balanchine’s Swan Lake. In addition to the traditional and well-known excerpts, Mr. Luders coached two male variations created for alternating performances, and, Ms. Mazzo shared a dance featuring the Swan Queen and a corps of four women.
Coaching Phlegmatic and Choleric
In the first coaching of 2024, Colleen Neary and Adam Luders coached the Choleric and Phlegmatic sections of Four Temperaments. Diving into the nuances of the principal and corps de ballet roles, the coaches shared the dynamism, energy and elegance of this timeless work.
Celebrating 90 Years of SAB at the New York Public Library
On March 18, 2024, we co-hosted a discussion at the Bruno Walter Auditorium featuring a panel moderated by Steven Caras, live demonstrations of classroom work by students from SAB, and insight into how Balanchine built off a Russian training in his choreography and style.
A recording of the event is available for viewing at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Remembering Mel
It is with profound sadness that The George Balanchine Foundation mourns the passing of our cherished President, Melvin (Mel) Schierman. His stalwart devotion to the legacies of George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein was boundless and invaluable, and for over two decades he has been the gentle, dignified heart and soul of The Balanchine Foundation. Our deepest condolences to his family, especially his beloved wife Alex, and to all who loved him as we did.
Apollo's Muses
Continuing the exploration of Balanchine’s seminal Apollo, Kay Mazzo, Francia Russell and Suki Schorer coached the muses July 9-10, 2023 and were interviewed by Alastair Macaulay. American Ballet Theater’s principal dancer Devon Teuscher and soloist Chloe Misseldine were joined by principal New York City Ballet dancer Isabella LaFreniere and former principal Robert Fairchild to dance the pas d’action, pas de deux, three female variations, coda and the Apotheosis or ascent to Parnassus.
Love, loss and tragedy in The Steadfast Tin Soldier
This Hans Christian Andersen-inspired duet, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, conveys the story of a tin soldier’s love of a paper doll, brought to life in the coaching on June 4, 2023 by current NYCB soloist Erica Pereira and principal Roman Mejia, accompanied by NYCB rehearsal pianist Michael Scales. Coaches Patricia McBride and Peter Schaufuss shared insights they learned directly from Balanchine as originals in the roles.
