Baryshnikov Becomes Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre
At a glance:
- Series: Great Events from History II: Arts and Culture Series
- Categories: Arts
- Subcategories: Entertainment, Entertainers, Dance, Dancers, Dancing, Organizations, Agencies, Institutions
- Curriculum: American History 1951-present, Russian/Former Soviet States History
- Geographical Location: New York City
- Date: 1980
Article abstract: Mikhail Baryshnikov’s defection from the Soviet Union in 1974 gave American ballet its second superstar, but his subsequent tenure as artistic director of American Ballet Theatre from 1980 to 1990 proved less than fruitful.
Summary of Event
Mikhail Baryshnikov took over as the artistic director of American Ballet Theatre (popularly known as ABT, in contrast to Balanchine’s rival New York City Ballet, or NYCB) in 1980. A supremely brilliant and inspiring technical dancer, he might have welded ABT into the finest ballet company in the...
[The entire page is 2286 words long]
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