Balanchine: A brief history of the man behind the dance

George Balanchine

- Born January 22, 1904 in St. Petersburg, Russia

- "One of the 20th century's foremost choreographers, a pioneer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and ballet master of New York City Ballet: he created modern ballet, based on his deep knowledge of classical forms and techniques"

- "He was a choreographer known for his musicality; he did not illustrate music but expressed it in dance"

- He worked quite a bit with Stravinsky-- Choreographing 39 of his ballets-- Including Agon.