George Balanchine

Russian-American dancer, known as one of the most famous choreographers in the field of ballet. Born to a Russian mother and a Georgian father, he embodied both Slavic extravagance of emotion and Georgian gallantry and love for women. Famous for his incredible "Balanchine ballerinas," he was recognized as the master at creating memorable roles for both female and male dancers. Credited with freeing ballet from the symmetrical form, which dominated during the 19th century, as well as with establishing the modern style of classical American ballet, his dance works number well over 200.

Born Georgi Melitonovich Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, he was exposed to music during his childhood by his father, a composer. As a result, he gained knowledge of music that was far superior to that of his fellow choreographers. At the age of five, he was already studying the piano, and by nine, he was studying dance at the St. Petersburg Academy. His debut came at the age of ten when he danced the role of a cupid in the Mariinsky Theatre Ballet Company’s production of "The Sleeping Beauty." In 1921, following his graduation from the Imperial Ballet School, he enrolled in the State Conservatory of Music where, for three years, he intensively studied musical theory, including composition, harmony and counterpoint, along with undertaking further piano instruction. By 17, he joined the Mariinsky Company as a member of the corps de ballet, and staged one work for them, called "Enigmas."

Most of his energy during the early 1920s was concentrated on choreographic experimentation. The vastness of his musical training made it possible for him to achieve phenomenal communication with the composers of the day, as well as endowing him with the ability to reduce orchestral scores on the piano; this skill proved an invaluable aid when he translated music into dance.