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Timeline: Dance

Years: c. 600 BCE - 1997	Subject: Performing arts, Dance
Publisher: HistoryWorld	Online Publication Date: 2012
Current online version: 2012	eISBN: 9780191736995

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BCE CE

Year	Event
c. 600 BCE	The choros, originally danced in a circle by temple virgins, is the centrepiece of the developing Greek theatre Go to chōrus (‘dance’) in The Oxford Companion to Classical Literature (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE 6th century BCE Performing arts Europe Greece Frenzied dances, in honour of the god Dionysus, become part of Greek theatre - deriving probably from the northeast, in Thrace Go to Dionysus in The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1000-600 BCE 6th century BCE Performing arts Europe Greece
1581	The first dramatic ballet, the Balet Comique de la Reine, is presented during French wedding festivities Go to ballet de cour in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 16th century Performing arts Europe France
1653	The 14-year-old Louis XIV dances in a court ballet as Apollo, wearing a glorious sun costume, and finds that he likes the role Go to Louis XIV (1638–1715) in The New Oxford Companion to Literature in French (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Performing arts Europe France
1661	Louis XIV establishes a royal dancing academy and soon follows it with a music academy Go to Louis XIV (1638–1715) in The New Oxford Companion to Literature in French (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Performing arts Europe France
1681	A professional ballet company in Paris introduces female dancers and the world's first prima ballerina, Mlle de Lafontaine Go to Lafontaine, Mlle de (1655) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 17th century Performing arts Europe France
1870	Coppélia, with choreography by Arthur Saint-Léon to music by Delibes, has its premiere at the Paris Opera Go to Coppélia in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Performing arts Music Europe France
c. 1873	French painter Edgar Degas finds inspiration in the onstage and backstage world of ballet dancers Go to Degas, Edgar Hilaire Germain (19 July 1834) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Painting French painting Performing arts French art Europe France
1877	The ballet Swan Lake, with choreography by Julius Wenzel Reisinger to music by Tchaikovsky, has its premiere at the Bolshoi in Moscow Go to Reisinger, Julius Wenzel (14 Dec. 1828) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Performing arts Music Europe Russia
1890	Sleeping Beauty, with choreography by Petipa to music by Tchaikovsky, has its premiere in St Petersburg Go to Sleeping Beauty, The in The Oxford Companion to Music (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Performing arts Music Europe Russia
1892	The Nutcracker, with choreography by Lev Ivanov to music by Tchaikovsky, has its premiere in St Petersburg Go to Nutcracker, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Performing arts Music Europe Russia
1895	Swan Lake is performed in St Petersburg in its definitive version, with choreography shared between Lucien Petipa and Lev Ivanov Go to Swan Lake in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Performing arts Music Europe Russia
1900	Isadora Duncan dances professionally for the first time in Europe in London's Lyceum Theatre Go to Duncan, Isadora (1877–1927) in A Dictionary of Sports Studies (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 19th century Victorian era Britain 1750-1900 1900s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1905	The Dutch dancer Gertrud Zelle begins a career in Paris, using the stage name Mata Hari Go to Mata Hari in A New Dictionary of Eponyms (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: Edwardian era 1900s 20th century Performing arts War Europe Netherlands
1906	6-year-old Fred Astaire and his sister Adele give their first professional performance, in the pier theatre in Keyport, New Jersey Go to Astaire, Fred (1899–1987) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Performing arts North America United States
1907	Michel Fokine creates the ballet Les Sylphides (originally called Chopiniana) to music by Chopin Go to Sylphides, Les in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Performing arts Europe France Anna Pavlova dances The Dying Swan, choreographed for her by Michel Fokine to music by Saint-Saëns Go to Dying Swan, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Performing arts Europe France Russia
1908	Bronislava Nijinska joins her brother Vaslav in the Maryinsky company in St Petersburg Go to Nijinska, Bronislava (8 Jan. 1891) in The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Performing arts Europe Russia
1909	Michel Fokine becomes the choreographer for the ballet company that Sergei Diaghilev is taking to Paris Go to Fokine, Michel (1880–1942) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France Alexandre Benois becomes the first artistic director of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes Go to Benois, Alexandre (4 May 1870) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Performing arts Europe France Diaghilev presents the first season of Ballets Russes in Paris, with Pavlova and Nijinsky in the company Go to Diaghilev, Serge (31 Mar. 1872) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Performing arts Europe France Fokine's 1907 ballet Chopiniana is revised and given a new name, Les Sylphides Go to Fokine, Mikhail (5 May 1880) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Performing arts Europe France Set-designer Leon Bakst begins a long association with Diaghilev's Ballets Russes Go to Bakst, Léon (1866) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1900s 20th century Performing arts French art Europe France
1910	Schéhérazade, with choreography by Fokine, music by Rimsky-Korsakov and designs by Bakst, is premiered by the Ballets Russes in Paris Go to Scheherazade in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France The Firebird brings together Fokine (choreography), Stravinsky (music) and Golovine and Bakst (sets and costumes) Go to Firebird in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France
1911	Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova settles in London and forms her own touring company Go to Pavlova, Anna (12 Feb. 1881) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Le Spectre de la Rose, with choreography by Fokine, music by Weber and designs by Bakst, is premiered by the Ballets Russes in Monte Carlo Go to Spectre de la rose, Le in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Europe France The ballet Petrushka brings together Fokine (choreography), Stravinsky (music) and Benois (sets and costumes) Go to Petrushka in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France Sergei Diaghilev and Vaslav Nijinsky leave Russia for the west Go to Nijinsky, Vaslav (12 Mar. 1889) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Europe Russia
1912	Vaslav Nijinsky causes a sensation dancing in his own first ballet, L'Après-midi d'un faune, to music by Debussy Go to Nijinsky, Vaslav (12 Mar. 1889) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Europe France Daphnis and Chloe, with choreography by Fokine, music by Ravel and designs by Bakst, is premiered by the Ballets Russes in Paris Go to Daphnis and Chloe in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France The Berlin Opera Ballet is founded to perform in the city's new opera house Go to Berlin Opera Ballet in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Germany
1913	Igor Stravinsky and Vaslav Nijinsky provoke uproar in Paris with The Rite of Spring for Ballets Russes Go to Rite of Spring, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France Vaslav Nijinsky marries a Hungarian ballerina and is dismissed from the Ballets Russes by a jealous Diaghilev Go to Nijinsky, Vaslav (12 Mar. 1889) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Europe France The foxtrot, possibly introduced by US performer Harry Fox, becomes an immensely popular ballroom dance Go to foxtrot in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Social and domestic Society North America United States
1915	Manuel de Falla's ballet El Amor Brujo, including the 'Ritual Fire Dance', is performed in Paris Go to Falla, Manuel de (1876) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France
1917	Parade brings together Massine (choreography), Satie (music), Cocteau (libretto) and Picasso (sets and costumes) Go to Parade in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France Manuel de Falla's ballet The Three-Cornered Hat is produced by Diaghilev with choreography by Massine and designs by Picasso Go to Three-Cornered Hat, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France
1919	Léonide Massine, Ottorino Respighi and André Derain collaborate on the ballet La Boutique Fantasque Go to Boutique fantasque, La in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France Darius Milhaud provides the score for Jean Cocteau's pantomime ballet Le Boeuf sur le toit Go to Milhaud, Darius (1892–1974) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1910s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France
1920	Marie Rambert, a Polish dancer with the Ballets Russes, opens a ballet school in London Go to Rambert Dance Company in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1922	The Broadway show Ziegfeld Follies features an exciting new dance, the Charleston Go to Charleston in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts Theatre North America United States
1923	Albert Roussel's opera-ballet Padmâvâti is premiered in Paris Go to Roussel, Albert (1869) in The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music (5 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Europe France
1924	Le Train Bleu brings together Bronislava Nijinska (choreography), Darius Milhaud (music), and Coco Chanel (costumes) Go to Train bleu, Le in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France
1926	Irish dancer Ninette de Valois, recently with the Ballets Russes, opens a ballet school in London Go to Valois, (Dame) Ninette de (6 Jun. 1898) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Ireland Britain Rudolf von Laban publishes a new system of dance notation, which becomes known in English as Labanotation Go to Labanotation in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts Germany English choreographer Frederick Ashton creates his first ballet, A Tragedy of Fashion Go to Ashton, Sir Frederick William Mallandaine (1904–1988) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Béla Bartók's ballet The Miraculous Mandarin has its premiere (in Cologne) some eight years after he began work on it Go to Miraculous Mandarin, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe Hungary
1927	US dancer and choreographer Martha Graham opens a School of Contemporary Dance in New York Go to Graham, Martha (1893–1991) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts North America United States Isadora Duncan dies in Nice when her scarf tangles in the wheel of a Bugatti sports car, breaking her neck Go to Duncan, Isadora (1877–1927) in A Dictionary of Sports Studies (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts Europe France North America United States
1928	Ninette De Valois creates her first ballet, Les Petits Riens, at the Old Vic Go to de Valois, Dame Ninette (1898–2001) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain George Balanchine creates Apollo for Ballets Russes, to music by Igor Stravinksy Go to Apollo in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts Music North America United States Maurice Ravel writes Boléro as music for a ballet choreographed by Nijinska with designs by Benois Go to Bolero in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe France Ballerina Galina Ulanova graduates from the Leningrad Choreography School and joins the Maryinsky company Go to Ulanova, Galina (8 Jan. 1910) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1920s 20th century Performing arts Russia
c. 1930	The verdict on Fred Astaire's first screen test, so the legend goes, is that he can't act, can't sing, is balding but can dance a little Go to Astaire, Fred (1899–1987) in World Encyclopedia (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts North America United States The Camargo Society, founded to promote British dancers and choreographers, presents its first evening of ballet in London Go to Camargo Society, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US choreographer Busby Berkeley moves to Hollywood to provide the first of his famous dance spectaculars, in Whoopee Go to Berkeley, Busby (29 Nov. 1895) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Film North America United States
1931	Frederick Ashton choreographs Façade for the Camargo Society, using Walton's score Go to Façade in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Music Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain A dance company, brought together by Ninette de Valois as the Vic-Wells Ballet, begins performing at Sadler's Wells Go to de Valois, Dame Ninette (1898–2001) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1932	The newly formed Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo opens for its first season, with George Balanchine as ballet master Go to Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, Les in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Europe France The Bluebell Girls, formed by Margaret Kelly ('Miss Bluebell'), give their first performances in Paris Go to Bluebell Girls in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe France Britain
1933	Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance together for the first time on film, in Flying Down to Rio Go to Flying Down To Rio in Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Film North America United States
1934	15-year-old English ballerina Margot Fonteyn makes her first appearance, dancing as a Snowflake in Nutcracker Go to Fonteyn, Dame Margot (1919–1991) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1935	Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers have one of their greatest successes dancing in their fourth film together, Top Hat Go to Top Hat in Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Film North America United States George Balanchine's new company, American Ballet, has its first brief season in New York Go to American Ballet, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts North America United States In Frontier the Japanese-US sculptor Isamu Noguchi designs the first of his many sets for Martha Graham ballets Go to Noguchi, Isamu (1904–88) in A Dictionary of Modern Design (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts North America United States Marie Rambert's London-based company, deriving originally from her school, takes the name Ballet Rambert Go to Rambert, (Dame) Marie (20 Feb. 1888) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Leningrad's opera and ballet company is renamed the Kirov, in memory of the city's recently assassinated commissar Go to Kirov, Sergei Mironovich (28 Mar. 1886) in A Dictionary of Political Biography (1 rev ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Music Opera Communism Europe Russia
1938	The first of many ballets to Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet score is premiered in Czechoslovakia Go to Prokofiev, Sergei Sergeievich (1891–1953) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1930s 20th century Performing arts Music Bohemia Europe Czech Republic Russia
1940	American Ballet Theatre, directed by Lucia Chase and Richard Pleasant, begins its first season in New York Go to American Ballet Theatre in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts North America United States US choreographer Agnes de Mille creates Black Ritual for American Ballet Theatre Go to de Mille, Agnes (1905–93) in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts North America United States
1942	US choreographer Merce Cunningham begins a long creative partnership with the composer John Cage Go to Cage, John (5 Sept. 1912) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts Music North America United States Aaron Copland's ballet Rodeo has choreography by Agnes de Mille Go to Rodeo in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts North America United States
1944	Composer Leonard Bernstein and choreographer Jerome Robbins work together on the ballet Fancy Free Go to Fancy Free in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts North America United States Fancy Free becomes On the Town, a Broadway musical by Leonard Bernstein, directed by Jerome Robbins Go to On the Town (1944) in The Oxford Companion to American Theatre (3 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts Theatre North America United States Aaron Copland's ballet Appalachian Spring has choreography by Martha Graham Go to Appalachian Spring in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts Music North America United States
1946	Frederick Ashton choreographs Symphonic Variations, to music by César Franck Go to Ashton, (Sir) Frederick (17 Sept. 1904) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The marriage of George Balanchine and Maria Tallchief unites two major stars of the US ballet scene Go to Tallchief, Maria (24 Jan. 1925) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts North America United States
1948	British dancer Robert Helpmann choreographs the ballet scenes in the film The Red Shoes, featuring Moira Shearer Go to Red Shoes, The (film musical) in Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts Film Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain George Balanchine's New York City Ballet becomes the resident company in the City Center for Music and Drama Go to New York City Ballet in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts North America United States Ballerina Mikiko Matsuyama and her husband establish a family-run ballet company in Tokyo Go to Matsuyama Ballet in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts Asia East Asia Japan Frederick Ashton's Cinderella, to music by Prokofiev, is the first full-length ballet by an English choreographer Go to Ashton, (Sir) Frederick (17 Sept. 1904) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts Music Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1949	Roland Petit's ballet Carmen, starring himself and his wife Zizi Jeanmaire, is a sensation at its London premiere Go to Carmen in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1940s 20th century Performing arts Europe France
1950	Anton Dolin and Alicia Markova form the Festival Ballet, in time for next year's Festival of Britain Go to English National Ballet in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1951	British-Canadian choreographer Celia Franca founds the National Ballet of Canada Go to National Ballet of Canada in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts North America Canada
1953	British choreographer Kenneth MacMillan creates his first ballet, Somnambulism, to music by Stan Kenton Go to MacMillan, Sir Kenneth (11 Dec. 1929) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Merce Cunningham forms his own company of dancers, initially at Black Mountain College in North Carolina Go to Cunningham, Merce (16 Apr. 1919) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts North America United States
1954	US choreographer Paul Taylor begins a long and fruitful collaboration with Robert Rauschenberg as his set designer Go to Taylor, Paul (29 Jul. 1930) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts North America United States
1955	British dancer Joan Benesh and her husband Rudolf develop the Benesh system of dance notation Go to Benesh, Rudolf in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1956	Jerome Robbins creates the ballet The Concert, to music by Chopin Go to Robbins, Jerome (11 Oct. 1918) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts North America United States The Sadler's Wells Ballet, dancing now at Covent Garden, is renamed the Royal Ballet Go to Royal Ballet, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Russian dancer Galina Ulanova proves a sensation on tour in Europe and the USA in her late forties Go to Ulanova, Galina (8 Jan. 1910) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Europe Russia North America United States The ballet Spartacus, with music by Aram Khachaturian, has its premiere in Leningrad Go to Spartacus in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Music Europe Russia
1957	Latvian-Canadian dancer Ludmilla Chiriaeff founds the Grands Ballets Canadiens in Montreal Go to Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, Les in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts North America Canada
1958	Lynn Seymour creates the first of many roles for MacMillan, dancing the Adolescent in The Burrow Go to Seymour, Lynn (8 Mar. 1939) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain John Cranko's version of Romeo and Juliet, to Prokofiev's score, is premiered by La Scala Ballet in Venice Go to Romeo and Juliet in The International Encyclopedia of Dance (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Venice Europe Italy
1959	A group of dancers leave the Netherlands Ballet and establish their own Netherlands Dance Theatre in The Hague Go to Nederlands Dans Theater in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1950s 20th century Performing arts Europe Netherlands
1960	French choreographer Maurice Béjart is the first director of Belgium's new Ballet of the 20th Century Go to Ballet of the 20th Century in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Europe Belgium
1961	British choreographer John Cranko becomes director of the Stuttgart Ballet Go to Cranko, John (15 Aug. 1927) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Germany Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev defects from the Kirov company at Le Bourget airport and seeks political asylum in France Go to Nureyev, Rudolf Hametovich (1939–1993) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Europe France Russia Rudolf Nureyev makes his first appearance in a western company, dancing in The Sleeping Beauty for the Marquis de Cuevas Go to Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Europe France
1962	US choreographer Glen Tetley creates a ballet to the music of Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire Go to Tetley, Glen (3 Feb. 1926) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts North America United States British dancer Peggy van Praagh is appointed the first director of the newly formed Australian Ballet Go to Australian Ballet in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Australia and Oceania Australia
1963	British choreographer Frederick Ashton creates Marguerite and Armand for Margot Fonteyn and her new partner, Rudolf Nureyev Go to Marguerite and Armand in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Ninette de Valois, founder of the Royal Ballet, retires after building the company to international stature Go to Valois, (Dame) Ninette de (6 Jun. 1898) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1964	Anthony Dowell and Antoinette Sibley begin a famous partnership in Ashton's The Dream Go to Dowell, (Sir) Anthony (16 Feb. 1943) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain The Beijing ballet company goes political with The Red Detachment of Women, supervised by Mao Zedong's wife, Jiang Qing Go to Red Detachment of Women, The in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Asia East Asia China
1965	Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev dance together in the premiere of Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet Go to Romeo and Juliet in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain US choreographer Robert Joffrey founds a new company that becomes known (from 1977) as the Joffrey Ballet Go to Joffrey, Robert (24 Dec. 1930) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1960s 20th century Performing arts North America United States
1970	Russian ballerina Natalia Makarova defects to the west while on tour with the Kirov company in London Go to Makarova, Natalia (21 Nov. 1940) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Russia Britain
1971	The Dance Theatre of Harlem, founded by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook, gives its first performance at the Guggenheim Museum in New York Go to Dance Theatre of Harlem in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Performing arts North America United States Hip-hop originates as a dance style in New York among young African Americans Go to hip-hop in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Performing arts Social and domestic Society North America United States
1973	US choreographer Twyla Tharp creates Deuce Coupe, set to songs by the Beach Boys Go to Tharp, Twyla (1 Jul. 1941) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Performing arts North America United States
1974	Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell dance together in the premiere of Kenneth MacMillan's Manon Go to Manon in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Soviet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov defects from the Kirov company while on tour in Canada Go to Baryshnikov, Mikhail Nikolaievich (1948– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Performing arts Europe Russia North America Canada Kenneth MacMillan uses Scott Joplin as his score for a ragtime ballet, Elite Syncopations Go to Elite Syncopations in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 Europe Britain
1975	Czech choreographer Jiri Kylián becomes director of the Netherlands Dance Theatre in The Hague Go to Kylián, Jiří (21 Mar. 1947) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Performing arts Europe Netherlands
1976	Mikhail Baryshnikov dances in the New York premiere of Twyla Tharp's ballet Push Comes to Shove Go to Baryshnikov, Mikhail Nikolaievich (1948– ) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Performing arts North America United States Frederick Ashton creates a ballet based on Turgenev's play A Month in the Country, to music by Chopin Go to Ashton, Sir Frederick William Mallandaine (1904–1988) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1978	Kenneth MacMillan turns a double suicide of 1889 into a ferociously dramatic ballet, Mayerling Go to MacMillan, Sir Kenneth (1929–1992) in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century (1 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1970s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1980	US choreographer Mark Morris founds his own company, the Mark Morris Dance Group, based in New York Go to Morris, Mark (29 Aug. 1956) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Performing arts North America United States
1981	16-year-old ballerina Sylvie Guillem joins the Paris Opera Ballet Go to Guillem, Sylvie (23 Feb. 1965) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Performing arts Europe France
1983	Rudolf Nureyev begins a successful 6-year period as artistic director of the Paris Opera Ballet Go to Nureyev, Rudolf (17 Mar. 1938) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Performing arts Europe France
1984	US choreographer William Forsythe becomes director of the Frankfurt Ballet Go to Forsythe, William (30 Dec. 1949) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Performing arts Germany
1987	Sylvie Guillem and Laurent Hilaire dance in the Paris premiere of William Forsythe's In the middle somewhat elevated Go to Guillem, Sylvie (23 Feb. 1965) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Performing arts Europe France
1989	The English National Ballet evolves from London's Festival Ballet Go to English National Ballet in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain French ballerina Sylvie Guillem moves from Paris to join the Royal Ballet in London Go to Guillem, Sylvie (23 Feb. 1965) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe France Britain Kenneth MacMillan gives 20-year-old Darcy Bussell the leading role in his new full-length ballet, The Prince of the Pagodas Go to Bussell, Darcey (27 Apr. 1969) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1980s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1990	Danish choreographer Peter Martins becomes director of the New York City Ballet Go to Martins, Peter (27 Oct. 1946) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Performing arts Denmark North America United States Mikhail Baryshnikov and Mark Morris establish the White Oak Dance Project as a touring company Go to Baryshnikov, Mikhail (27 Jan. 1948) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Performing arts North America United States The Sadler's Wells ballet company moves to Birmingham, to become the Birmingham Royal Ballet Go to Birmingham Royal Ballet in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain Russian dancer Irek Mukhamedov leaves the Bolshoi company to join the Royal Ballet in London Go to Mukhamedov, Irek (8 Mar. 1960) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1992	The New York company Dance Theatre of Harlem tours South Africa, with the slogan 'Dancing Through Barriers' Go to Dance Theatre of Harlem in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Performing arts Africa South Africa South Africa (republic) North America United States
1994	Riverdance, based on traditional Irish step dancing, is presented first as an entertainment in the Eurovision Song Contest Go to Riverdance in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Performing arts British Isles Europe Ireland Britain
1995	British choreographer Matthew Bourne has a great success with his all-male Swan Lake Go to Bourne, Matthew (13 Jan. 1960) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Performing arts Great Britain - from 1707 United Kingdom - from 1801 British Isles Europe Britain
1997	Danish choreographer Peter Schaufuss founds his own ballet company at Holstebro Go to Schaufuss, Peter (26 Apr. 1949) in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance (2 ed.) See this event in other timelines: 1990s 20th century Performing arts Europe Denmark

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date: 24 September 2023

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