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Black and white photograph of George Balanchine rehearsing two ballet dancers by Costas, C0465, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
Purchased by Steve Gerber from Schubertiade Music on January 26, 2010.
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
George Balanchine is one of the greatest dancers, choreographers, and performing arts giants of the 20th century. Born in 1904 in St. Petersburg, Russia, Balanchine's career started in the Imperial School of Ballet in the renowned Mariinsky Theatre. In addition to ballet training, Balanchine also had professional musical training, which later informed his choreography abilities. In 1924 Balanchine was invited to join the Ballets Russes by another giant of the dance world, Sergei Diaghilev, and his career grew from there. In 1948 Balanchine made his greatest contribution to the dance world, the founding of the New York City Ballet. As Artistic Director of the company, Balanchine choreographed classic and new, interpretive ballets alike. His versions of traditional ballets, such as The Nutcracker, are now considered classics of their own.
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.
Black and white matted photograph of George Balanchine rehearsing two ballet dancers, taken by the dance photographer Costas, circa late 1970s or early 1980s. In the photograph Balanchine demonstrates his choreography to a presumably female and male pair of ballet dancers. It is unknown which ballet they are rehearsing for. The photograph is signed on the matte by Costas andis stamped on the verso with the text "Choreographed by George Balanchine - Choreography [Registered] - The George Balanchine Trust[.]"
The Special Collections Research Center also holds the
This is a single item collection.
The George Balanchine Foundation. "Biography," 2002. Accessed January 27, 2021. http://www.balanchine.org/01/bio.html.
New York City Ballet. "George Balanchine." Accessed January 27, 2021. https://www.nycballet.com/discover/our-history/george-balanchine/.
The New York Public Library Archives and Manuscripts Division. "Costas dance photographs 1966 - 2016." The New York Public Library, Accessed January 19, 2021. http://archives.nypl.org/dan/24253.
Walker, Katherine Sorley. "George Balanchine." Encylopaedia Britannica, January 18, 2021. Accessed January 27, 2021, http://www.balanchine.org/01/bio.html.