George Balanchine
The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (October 2013) George Balanchine Born Georgi Melitonovitch Balanchivadze (1904-01-22)January 22, 1904 St. Petersburg, Russian Empire Died April 30, 1983(1983-04-30) (aged 79) New York City, New York, U.S. Cause of death Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease Occupation dancer, choreographer, actor, director Years active 1929–1983 Spouse(s) Tamara Geva (1921–1926; divorced) Vera Zorina (1938–1946; divorced) Maria Tallchief (1946–1952; annulled) Tanaquil LeClercq (1952–1969; divorced) Awards full list George Balanchine (born Giorgi Melitonovitch Balanchivadze, Georgian: გიორგი ბალანჩივაძე, Russian: Гео ргий Баланчива дзе) (January 22 [O.S. January 9] 1904 – April 30, 1983) was one of the 20th century's most prolific choreographers. Styled as the father of American ballet, he took the standards and technique from his education at the Imperial Ballet School and fused it with other schools of movement that he had adopted during his tenure as a guest choreographer on Broadway and in Hollywood, creating his signature "neoclassical style". He was a choreographer known for his musicality; he expressed music with dance and worked extensively with leading composers of his time like Igor Stravinsky. He was invited to America in 1933, by a young arts patron named Lincoln Kirstein who shared Balanchine's attitude regarding the importance of high quality dance training in America and together they founded the School of American Ballet. Along with Kirstein he co-founded the New York City Ballet (NYCB) and remained its Artistic Director until his death.