Jerome Robbins

Jerome Robbins
Jerome_Robbins_ca._1968.jpg: studio publicity still. The original uploader was W · Public domain · source
Name	Jerome Robbins
Birth date	October 11, 1918
Birth place	New York City, New York
Death date	July 29, 1998
Death place	New York City, New York
Occupation	Choreographer, Dancer, Theater Director

Jerome Robbins was a renowned American choreographer, dancer, and theater director who worked with prominent companies such as the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. He is best known for his collaborations with Leonard Bernstein on West Side Story and On the Town, as well as his work with George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein on various ballet productions. Robbins' career spanned over five decades, during which he worked with notable figures like Mikhail Baryshnikov, Rudolf Nureyev, and Jacques d'Amboise. His contributions to the world of dance and theater have been recognized with numerous awards, including multiple Tony Awards and an Academy Award.

● Early Life and Training

Jerome Robbins was born in New York City, New York, to a family of Jewish immigrants from Poland. He grew up in Weehawken, New Jersey, and began his dance training at the New Dance League with Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. Robbins later studied at the School of American Ballet with George Balanchine and Pavel Gerdt, and attended New York University and the New School for Social Research. During his early career, he performed with companies such as the Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet, working with notable choreographers like Agnes de Mille and Léonide Massine.

● Career

Robbins' career as a choreographer began in the 1940s, with his first major work being Fancy Free, a ballet set to music by Leonard Bernstein. This collaboration led to the creation of On the Town, a musical theater production that premiered on Broadway in 1944. Robbins went on to work on numerous Broadway shows, including The King and I with Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and West Side Story with Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim. He also choreographed for film and television, working on projects like The Bell Telephone Hour and Producers' Showcase. Throughout his career, Robbins collaborated with prominent dance companies like the Royal Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet, and worked with renowned dancers such as Margot Fonteyn and Maya Plisetskaya.

● Choreographic Works

Some of Robbins' most notable choreographic works include The Cage, a ballet set to music by Igor Stravinsky, and Dances at a Gathering, a ballet set to music by Frédéric Chopin. He also choreographed Glass Pieces, a ballet set to music by Philip Glass, and In the Night, a ballet set to music by Frédéric Chopin. Robbins' choreography often incorporated elements of modern dance and jazz dance, and he was known for his ability to blend different styles and techniques. His work has been performed by companies like the National Ballet of Canada and the Australian Ballet, and has been influenced by choreographers like Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey.

● Awards and Legacy

Throughout his career, Robbins received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of dance and theater. He won multiple Tony Awards for his work on West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof, and received an Academy Award for his choreography on the film adaptation of West Side Story. Robbins was also awarded the National Medal of Arts and the Kennedy Center Honor, and was inducted into the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame. His legacy continues to be celebrated through the work of the Jerome Robbins Foundation, which supports dance and theater companies and provides scholarships to emerging choreographers and dancers. Robbins' influence can be seen in the work of choreographers like Twyla Tharp and Mark Morris, and his collaborations with Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim remain some of the most iconic in the history of American musical theater.

● Personal Life

Robbins was known to be a private person, and his personal life was not widely publicized. He was born to Mikhail Rabinowitz and Rebecca Rabinowitz, and had an older sister, Sonya Rabinowitz. Robbins never married and had no children, but he was close to his family and maintained a strong relationship with his sister throughout his life. He was also known to be a perfectionist and a demanding choreographer, who pushed his dancers to achieve their best. Despite his tough exterior, Robbins was deeply passionate about his work and was committed to creating innovative and meaningful dance and theater productions. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of dancers, choreographers, and theater directors, and his contributions to the world of dance and theater remain unparalleled. Category:American choreographers