Spotlight on
Jerome Robbins
As director and choreographer, Robbins shaped the musical with great innovation. West Side Story was immediately recognized as a major achievement in American musical theatre because of its highly charged, intense dance and direction. Robbins was awarded the 1958 Tony Award for best choreography and Academy Awards for choreography and codirection (with Robert Wise) on the 1961 film version of West Side Story. In 1959, he also directed and choreographed the popular musical Gypsy and in 1964, Fiddler on the Roof. After Fiddler on the Roof, Robbins focused more exclusively on ballet with such acclaimed works as Les Noces. In 1969, he returned to the New York City Ballet and wrote the ballets Dances at a Gathering (1969); The Goldberg Variations (1971); Requiem Canticles (1972); In G Major (1975); Glass Pieces, (music by Phillip Glass; 1983); In Memory of... (1985); Ives, Songs (1988); and West Side Story Suite (1995).
In 1990, Robbins resigned as codirector of the New York City Ballet but continued to choreograph for the company. His last work, Brandenburg, premiered at NYCB in 1997.
Jerome Robbins
As director and choreographer, Robbins shaped the musical with great innovation. West Side Story was immediately recognized as a major achievement in American musical theatre because of its highly charged, intense dance and direction. Robbins was awarded the 1958 Tony Award for best choreography and Academy Awards for choreography and codirection (with Robert Wise) on the 1961 film version of West Side Story. In 1959, he also directed and choreographed the popular musical Gypsy and in 1964, Fiddler on the Roof. After Fiddler on the Roof, Robbins focused more exclusively on ballet with such acclaimed works as Les Noces. In 1969, he returned to the New York City Ballet and wrote the ballets Dances at a Gathering (1969); The Goldberg Variations (1971); Requiem Canticles (1972); In G Major (1975); Glass Pieces, (music by Phillip Glass; 1983); In Memory of... (1985); Ives, Songs (1988); and West Side Story Suite (1995).
In 1990, Robbins resigned as codirector of the New York City Ballet but continued to choreograph for the company. His last work, Brandenburg, premiered at NYCB in 1997.
