Auditorium Theatre 2019-2020 American Ballet Theatre

10 | AUDITORIUM THEATRE 2019-20 | March 10 - May 5, 2020 AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE CELEBRATES 80 YEARS! American Ballet Theatre (ABT), an Auditorium Theatre Visiting Resident Company, celebrates its 80 th anniversary this season. From its inception in 1940 to today, the company has made major contributions to the dance world. Take a look back at some of the company’s highlights of the past 80 years! 1939 – American Ballet Theatre, originally called simply “Ballet Theatre,” is founded by dancer Lucia Chase and Richard Pleasant. 1940 – The company makes its debut performance on January 11 at Rockefeller Center in New York City. At the time, the troupe had 85 dancers. One of the works that the company premieres in its inaugural season is Antony Tudor’s Jardin aux Lilas . ABT will perform the dramatic one-act ballet at the Auditorium Theatre in 2020. 1943 – Alicia Alonso, who joined the company in 1940 and would later go on to establish Ballet Nacional de Cuba, makes her debut in Giselle . Ballerina Vera Zorina also joins the company, and her husband, George Balanchine, restages his earlier works Apollo and The Wanderer for ABT. 1945 – Oliver Smith becomes a co-director of the company, along with Lucia Chase. 1950 – The company goes overseas on its first European tour. 1957 – The company’s name is officially changed to American Ballet Theatre by decree of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 1958 – While touring in Europe, a truck carrying company sets, costumes, and personal wardrobes catches fire. Chase calls ballet companies all across Europe looking for sets to borrow, and dancers purchase new supplies. Five days later, the company opens the United States Pavilion at the Brussels World’s Fair as planned, with only slight wardrobe and set changes. 1960 – ABT is the first American dance company to tour the Soviet Union, performing to sold-out crowds. Programs include pieces such as George Balanchine’s Themes and Variations , the Black Swan pas de deux from Swan Lake , Agnes DeMille’s Rodeo , and Mikhail Fokine’s Les Sylphides . 1962 – The company is invited to Washington, DC, to perform for President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. In the same year, renowned Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev performs with the company, appearing in Balanchine’s Theme and Variations and the pas de deux from Le Corsaire . 1966 – The company performs in Hawaii and Alaska, maintaining its status as national ballet company by appearing in all 50 states. A poster advertising the company’s first performance. Alicia Alonso in Giselle . WALTER E. OWEN