| A | B |
|---|
| Nijinsky | Star dancer for Ballets Russes. Frequently partnered with Karsavina. Most noted performance was Rite of Spring, which caused a riot at its premiere. Considered the greatest 20th century dancer. Went insane and dies in an asylum. |
| Diaghilev | Nondancer. Founder of the Ballets Russes. |
| Nureyev | Star of the Kirov Ballet. Defected to the west in 1961. Frequent partner was Margot Fonteyn. Best known for: amazing leaps |
| Jerome Robbins | dancer/choreographer who often combined jazz, modern, socal dance. Directed (and choreographed) West Side Story and Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway. Founder of Ballets: U.S.A. |
| Baryshnikov | Member Kirov Balet until he defected in 1974. Joined American Ballet Theatre. Director of it for 9 years in the eighties. Has a child with Jessica Lange |
| Isadora Duncan | One of the first great women of modern dance. Rejected the rigidity of ballet, instead favoring dances based on Greek classical arts. Died when long scalf became caught in moving car's axle. |
| Martha Graham | Very long career - spanning over a century! Appalachian Spring (1944) is her most known work. |
| Agnes de Mille | Niece of Cecil B. DeMille. Created works rooted in American folklore--including "Rodeo" (the first major American ballet) and the dances for "Oklahoma". Also created "Fall River Legend" |
| Alvin Ailey | African American choreographer. Founded the American Dance Theatre. Best known work: Creation of the World |
| George Ballanchine | Worked with Ballets Russes before cofounding the New York City Ballet. Favored ballets with classical themes such as Agon and Apollo. They tend to emphasize form rather than plot. |
