Balanchine's Birthday

Thanks to an email from the wealth of ballet knowledge known as Philip I found out that today is New York City Ballet founder George Balanchine's birthday.  I grew up dancing many of this legendary choreographer's works at North Carolina School of the Arts under the tutelage of Melissa Hayden, an originator of many famous roles in the NYCB repertoire.  Through rehearsals for Allegro Brilliante, Scotch Symphony, Stars and Stripes, and Symphony in C I was able to absorb many stories about Mr. B directly from Ms. Hayden, and my love of this neo-classical choreographer grew as I passed from student to professional. 

I assume it's no coincidence that Arlene Croce has written a piece for this week's New Yorker documenting the many quotes Balanchine was notorious for using and where those quotes originated from.  It's an interesting article, rich in historical information not only about Balanchine himself but also of those he "borrowed" from.  Here are a few of my favorite quotes. 

"I am not a man, but a cloud in trousers."

"When you have a garden full of pretty flowers, you don't demand of them, "What do you mean?  What is your significance?" Dancers are just flowers, and flowers grow without any literal meaning, they are just beautiful.  We're like flowers.  A flower doesn't tell you a story.  It's in itself a beautiful thing."

"Everything has been thought of before; the task is to think of it again."

Comments

[Sarah]

One of my favorite Balanchine stories comes from when he was watching Jerry Robbins choreograph Dances at a Gathering and he told him... "Keep making more. Like popcorn." (although some say it was peanuts and not popcorn). Looking forward to a LOT of Balanchine at NYCB this weekend!

[Valerie]

I took class from Melissa Hayden waaaay back in the 70's when she had her own studio in NY. The dance world is so small!

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