George Balanchine

"Gottlieb captures both the divine and human, offering an elegant, sharp, and sophisticated take on the choreographers life." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Written by the gifted author, editor, and dance critic Robert Gottlieb, George Balanchine describes the life and art of the celebrated, revolutionary ballet choreographer and founder of The New York City Ballet.

The foremost contemporary choreographer in the history of ballet, George Balanchine extended the art form into radical new paths that came to seem inevitable under his direction. He transformed movement and dance in classical and modern ballet, on the Broadway stage, and in the cinema.

George Balanchine chronicles the life and achievements of this visionary artist from his early, almost accidental career in Russia, where his lifelong collaboration with Igor Stravinsky was forged, to his extraordinary accomplishments in America. Gottlieb, one of the most knowledgeable dance critics in America, offers a superb and loving portrait of a genius who, though married many times to many ballerinas, remained truest to his greatest love, Terpischore, the Greek Muse of dance.

Here is a necessary and singular look at the life of one of the great figures of the 20th Century who was an inspiration to countless fans over the course of his long and storied career.

Gottlieb’s insider account reveals:

Definitive Dance History: Written by a critic who knew him, this biography offers a rare, personal look at the man behind the legend, from his early days in Russia to his creation of an American ballet empire. Legendary Collaborations: Explore Balanchines revolutionary partnerships, including his forty-year creative bond with composer Igor Stravinsky and his world-changing alliance with Lincoln Kirstein. Broadway and Hollywood: Go beyond the ballet stage to discover his transformative work for the Ziegfeld Follies, classic musicals like On Your Toes, and the golden age of cinema. The New York City Ballet: Witness the founding and flourishing of America’s most iconic ballet company, built from the ground up to realize Balanchine’s unique artistic vision.