George Balanchine

About

Influential twentieth-century dancer, choreographer, and ballet master. He was one of the founders of both the New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet.

Before Fame

At the age of nine, he began attending the Imperial Ballet School in St. Petersburg, Russia. He later studied music at the Petrograd Conservatory.

Trivia

In the mid 1950s, he choreographed an updated version of the famous Nutcracker ballet.

Family Life

He was married and divorced several times. All of his marriages -- to Opera Ginny, Alexandra Danilova, Tamara Geva, Vera Zorina, Maria Tallchief, and Tanaquil LeClercq -- were to fellow dancers.

Associated With

He frequently choreographed dances set to the music of Igor Stravinsky.