American Ballet Theatre Tickets

Founded with the name of ‘Mordkin Ballet’, the company’s journey began in 1937. Just after three years of foundation, some reorganization took place and the company was renamed to Ballet Theatre and had Lucia Chase as its director. She performed the duties of a director for about 40 years, and during this tenure she managed to take this company to a level where it became one of the leading dance companies of the world. Various choreographers and ballet masters joined her in this long course of time, and many had to leave but nothing hindered the journey of this ballet company towards excellence in art and style. The Ballet Theatre was renamed to American Ballet Theatre in 1956, which has continued to be the symbol of exquisite dance education and performance till present date. The company is based in the American city of New York and performs at Metropolitan Opera House at the Lincoln Center in the city.

The expert artistic directors that rendered their services for American Ballet Theatre include Lucia Chase, who was also the co-founder of this theatre company as well. She herself was a professional ballet dancer and her services and talent was acknowledged by her name being included in the National Museum of Dance C. V. Whitney Hall of Fame in 1988. After her retirement from the stage as a dancer, she continued directing at American Ballet Theatre till 1980.

Lucia, along with Oliver Smith, worked at this place for around forty years, since 1940 till 1980. Oliver Smith was an amazing scenic designer, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction for Guys and Dolls. His name was included in the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1981.

Mikhail Baryshnikov replaced them in 1980. He was a Russian American ballet dancer, and art director. He worked at American Ballet Theatre for 9 years, and worked mostly to promote modern dancing as well as preserving the traditional ballet style. He left in 1989 as Oliver Smith returned to the scene but only for 3 years. Till 1992 Oliver Smith worked in collaboration with Jane Hermann as artistic directors of the company. From 1991 onwards, Kevin McKenzie, the ballet dancer from Vermont has been directing the company till present date.

The American Ballet Theatre has three levels for the dancers working in it, namely, the principals, the soloists and the corps de ballet. The principals are the dancers at the highest rank. They get the most prominent position in ballets, and are the stars of the ballet. They are usually hired for the company or may even be promoted from the soloists or less likely, from the corps de ballet. Their performances form a regular part of the theatre.

Soloists are also the prominent dancers in American Ballet Theatre. They usually perform alone, and are ranked below the principal dancers but above the corps de ballet, which is a group of dancers usually performing in a specific formation. The dancers in corps de ballet have assigned positions on the stage and perform movements synchronized with each other in the dance. They form an integral part of the ballet theatre and usually perform in the backdrop of soloists or the principal dancer.

American Ballet Theatre is also quite active in promoting ballet education among the young generation. Its subdivision, ABT II, formerly known as the ABT Studio Company, picks dancers from around the world and trains them to become either a part of ABT main company or other prominent professional ballet dancing companies. American Ballet theatre also holds a summer intensive course for new dancers. There is Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School for teaching specific styles used in ABT. Among the prominent names that form a part of JKO School, is David Alvarez, who won Tony Award and performed in Billy Elliot the Musical. He is currently studying at full scholarship and has been performing in ABT’s The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker.

For the people having a taste for classical ballet dancing, American Ballet Theatre tickets are a gateway to an experience they would find hard to forget. Watching maestros of ballet performing for a company with such a high stature in dancing history is a feast for your eyes.

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