The George Balanchine Foundation
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Research Collections
Frederic Franklin: An Oral History
Frederic “Freddie” Franklin’s 20-year career as principal dancer and repertory director with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo is covered in depth, with Mr. Franklin discussing repertory, his frequent and beloved partner Alexandra Danilova, the making, coaching, and maintenance of the ballets, and every aspect of putting together a ballet nightly for paying audiences. The collection of 41 edited transcripts was cosponsored by the Jerome Robbins Dance Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, where it is currently held.
Popular Balanchine
Discover the range of Balanchine’s work created for revues, variety shows, operettas, American musicals, Hollywood films, and even a circus spectacle. This comprehensive collection of original essays, documents, printed materials, photographs, memorabilia, audio and video recordings, and transcripts of interviews is held at the Jerome Robbins Division of Dance at the New York Public Library.
Poster image of two elephants in pink tutus from The Greatest Show on Earth Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey
Music & Dance
Music Dances: Balanchine Choreographs Stravinsky
Conceived and written by Stephanie Jordan, this film celebrates the seminal collaboration of the 20th century between composer and choreographer. The video demonstrates the extraordinary range of ways in which Balanchine approached Stravinsky’s music across the years, from visualization to counterpoint, and simple juxtaposition to multi-system interaction. The video aims to reach a wide audience, non-specialists in dance or music, students as well as scholars. Available for purchase by educational institutions through Alexander Street or for viewing on site at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Dance as Music in Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco

Kara Yoo Leaman, an independent music theorist and Resident Fellow at The Center for Ballet and the Arts 2019-20 and 2022-23, examines George Balanchine’s use of music by Bach, Bizet, Mozart, and Tschaikovsky to explore Balanchine’s expression of musical artistry through choreography. Tracing connections between the movement patterns in Balanchine’s ballets and their musical scores, this study provides evidence to support long-held thinking regarding Balanchine’s music-based choreographic process and suggests new ways to understand music-dance interactions. Along with her own music-based movement notation, Leaman applies the latest tools of music analysis and digital video editing to illustrate how in his choreography Balanchine both replicated patterns from musical scores and constructed other patterns to complement the music.

Beginning in 2023, Dr. Leaman will continue to create video analyses in collaboration with the George Balanchine Foundation, thanks to the generous support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

Balanchine Technique & Style
Balanchine Essays: On Balanchine Style & Technique

Balanchine ballerinas and renowned teachers and coaches Suki Schorer and Merrill Ashley demonstrate crucial aspects of Balanchine Style and Balanchine Technique in a ten-part series of films illustrating how the choreographer applied them in his ballets. These recordings are invaluable resources for anyone interested in the importance of Balanchine as a teacher and the relationship of his pedagogy and his ballets.

Maria Tallchief looking to the distance in a Firebird costume with a tall red feather headpiece
Support the preservation of Balanchine's legacy
Maria Tallchief looking to the distance in a Firebird costume with a tall red feather headpiece
Support the preservation of Balanchine's legacy