George Balanchine

Also known as Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze

American choreographer, dancer and ballet master (1904–1983)

Film & TV

Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire [now Russia]

Known for

Stravinsky in Hollywood — Self (archive footage)2014
The Kennedy Center Honors — Self1978
A Stravinsky Portrait — Self1967
The Nutcracker — Drosselmeyer1958
I Was an Adventuress — Ballet Dancer (uncredited)1940
Dark Red Roses — Russian Ballet Dancer (Husband)1929
George Balanchine's Theme & Variations

via TMDB

Key facts

Born: Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze , ( 1904-01-22 ) January 22, 1904, Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
Died: April 30, 1983 (1983-04-30) (aged 79), New York City, U.S.
Occupations: Dancer, choreographer, director
Years active: 1929–1983
Partner: Alexandra Danilova (1926–1933)
Awards: Presidential Medal of Freedom , among others ( see below )

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Instance of: human
Given name: George
Gender: male
Citizenship: United States
Place of birth: Saint Petersburg
Place of death: New York City
Spouse: Tanaquil Le Clercq
Father: Meliton Balanchivadze
Sibling: Andria Balanchivadze
Occupation: screenwriter
Educated at: Saint Petersburg Conservatory
Employer: New York City Ballet
Languages spoken: English language
Award: Presidential Medal of Freedom
Student of: Pavel Gerdt
Official website: www.balanchine.org
Image: Suzanne Farrell and George Balanchine NYWTS.jpg
Residence: New York City

Show 12 more facts

cause of death: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Commons category: George Balanchine
date of birth: 1904-01-09
date of death: 1983-04-29
name in native language: გიორგი მელიტონის ძე ბალანჩივაძე
manner of death: natural causes
unmarried partner: Tamara Toumanova
influenced by: Marius Petipa
start of work period: 1929-00-00
archives at: Houghton Library
ethnic group: Georgians
P12674: Willy Langkeit

Sources (6)

via Wikidata · CC0

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Encyclopedic overview

George Balanchine (/ˈbælən(t)ʃiːn, ˌbælənˈ(t)ʃiːn/; born Georgiy Melitonovich Balanchivadze; January 22, 1904 [O.S. January 9] – April 30, 1983) was a Georgian-American ballet choreographer, recognized as one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century. Styled as the father of American ballet, he co-founded the New York City Ballet and remained its artistic director for more than 35 years. His choreography is characterized by plotless ballets with minimal costume and décor, performed to classical and neoclassical music.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Balanchine took the standards and technique from his time at the Imperial Ballet School and fused it with other schools of movement that he had adopted during his tenure on Broadway and in Hollywood, creating his signature "neoclassical style".

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “George Balanchine” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.