American Ballet Theatre: A 25-Year Retrospective

Ballet fans worldwide will cherish this beautiful photographic retrospective of the last 25 years of the American Ballet Theatre. Featuring more than 120 black-and-white photographs and more than 50 color photographs, this book captures the historic moments in a troupe whose performances have been described by the New York Times as “a marathon of glorious dancing.”With a substantial foreword by critic Clive Barnes, the text by Elizabeth Kaye narrates the rich history of the 60-year-old troupe, then concentrates on the two significant eras that have taken the ABT into the millennium as one of the most celebrated dance companies in the world: In the period in which Mikhail Baryshnikov served as its artistic director, commencing in 1980, the company strengthened and refined its classical tradition. The modern era, commencing when former principal dancer Kevin McKenzie took over in 1992, has seen a solid and adventuresome company turning a financial crisis into what Dance magazine calls “a cloudless horizon.”Recognized as one of the world’s greatest dance companies, ABT sets itself apart by its size, scope, and outreach. Founded in 1940, ABT performs for more than 600,000 people throughout the United State each year and is now in its sixth decade.The book celebrates the rich history of the company considered one of America’s living treasures.

Some ABT highlights include the company premier of Rudolf Nereyev’s Raymonda, the world premiere of Mikhail Baryshnikov’s The Nutcracker, and the world premiere of Antony Tudor’s The Tiller in the Fields.