George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchinewas one of the 20th century's most prominent choreographers. 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...
NationalityRussian
ProfessionChoreographer
Date of Birth22 January 1904
CitySaint Petersburg, Russia
CountryRussian Federation
beauty lucky
First comes the sweat. Then comes the beauty - if you're very lucky and have said your prayers.
hard-work years giving
If you don't feel challenged, it's because you're not doing enough. Ballet should never feel comfortable. Comfortable is lazy! If you're comfortable when you dance, you're not pushing yourself hard enough. 100 % is not enough. You have to give 200%. One tendu takes years of hard work and will never be perfect. Everything in ballet is a challenge.
saving holding-back another-time
Why are you stingy with yourselves? Why are you holding back? What are you saving for—for another time? There are no other times. There is only now. Right now.
dance men firsts
In my ballets, woman is first. Men are consorts. God made men to sing the praises of women. They are not equal to men: They are better.
two dancer stories
Storyless is not abstract. Two dancers on the stage are enough material for a story; for me, they are already a story in themselves
ballet speak
Ballet will speak for itself. About itself.
literature approach
I have no literary approach - except to literature.
dancer born
One is born to be a great dancer.