Color photograph of Jerome Robbins rehearsing "Circus Polka" with young ballet dancers by Costas, 1972

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)

Preferred citation:

Color photograph of Jerome Robbins rehearsing "Circus Polka" with young ballet dancers by Costas, C0462, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
.01 Linear Feet 1 photograph
Creator:
Costas
Abstract:
Matted color photograph featuring the dancer and choreographer Jerome Robbins taking a bow during rehearsals of the ballet "Circus Polka" in 1972. The photograph is signed by Robbins. It is also signed by Costas, the photographer, on the matte.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Color photograph of Jerome Robbins rehearsing "Circus Polka" with young ballet dancers by Costas, C0462, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

Matted color photograph featuring the dancer and choreographer Jerome Robbins taking a bow during rehearsals of the ballet "Circus Polka" in 1972. In the foreground is Robbins, in partial ringmaster costume, bowing and gesturing to the rehearsal audience. Behind Robbins in the background are young ballet dancers. The photograph is signed by Robbins. It is also signed by Costas - the photographer - on the matte.

Biographical / historical:

Jerome Robbins was one of the foremost dancers and choreographers of the 20th century. Born to Russian-Jewish immigrants in New York City in 1918, Robbins rose to prominence in the 1940s with his choreography for a number of Broadway shows. In 1949 Robbins became the Associate Artistic Director of the New York City Ballet under George Balanchine, cementing his place in the international ballet scene. Robbins gained worldwide fame with his Tony Award-winning choreography for the musicals West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof, after which he pivoted to ballet for the rest of his career. Robbins passed away in 1998.

"Circus Polka" is a short ballet with music by Igor Stravinsky and choreography by Jerome Robbins. The piece was originally commissioned by Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus as an act for their elephants accompanied by ballerinas. In 1972 Robbins choreographed a showpiece to the music for the Stravinsky Festival which featured himself as the circus Ringmaster, accompanied by forty-eight young students from the School of American Ballet. The ballet continues to be performed today.

Costas Cacaroukas - known by the mononym Costas - is a Greek-American dance photographer. He was the photographer in residence for the New York City Ballet for the majority of his career and was closely associated with George Balanchine. He was also the photographer in residence for American Ballet Theatre. In additon to the New York City Ballet, Costas photographed many other dance companies, both national and international.

Acquisition information:
Purchased by Steve Gerber from Schubertiade Music in March 2012.
Processing information:

Processing completed by Amanda Brent in January 2021. EAD markup completed by Amanda Brent in January 2021. This item was formerly part of the Performing Arts Manuscript Materials collection, C0215.

Arrangement:

This is a single item collection.

Physical location:
R 72, C 3, S 1
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Ballet
Dance
Names:
Robbins, Jerome