American Negro Ballet Company

The American Negro Ballet Company was formed in 1934 under the auspices of Eugene Von Grona, a German immigrant. Originally composed of thirty African-American jazz dancers, the company focused on serious modern dance. Lavinia Williams and Al Bledger were lead dancers.[1]

Photograph of lead dancer Al Bledger, 1938

Debut

The poorly reviewed debut performance on November 21, 1937, was conducted by Dean Dixon. It was held at the Lafayette Theatre in Harlem, New York, US.[2] Von Grona was the main choreographer for pieces by Igor Stravinsky, Duke Ellington and W. C. Handy, among others.[1]

Failure and reformation

The company only lasted five months, until 1938. In 1939, the company was renamed "Von Grona's American Swing Ballet."[1]

References

Gay Morris, Moving Words: Re-writing Dance, Psychology Press, 1996, p. 111. Google Books. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
Martin, John (November 22, 1937). "NEGRO BALLET HAS DEBUT IN HARLEM: Company Directed by Eugene von Grona in a Program of His Compositions". The New York Times. p. 15. ProQuest 102167196.

African-American dance
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater American Negro Ballet Company Buck dance Cakewalk Chicago stepping Dancing for eels Get down Hip-hop dance Breakdancing Locking Boogaloo Strutting Popping Juba dance Lindy Hop Set de flo' Slow drag Stepping Stick dance Swing Tap dance Vogue

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Contemporary	Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater AXIS Dance Company Ballet Deviare Ballet Hispanico Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company Dayton Contemporary Dance Company Dominic Walsh Hubbard Street Lar Lubovitch Martha Graham Momix Paul Taylor The Philadelphia Dance Company Pilobolus Ririe-Woodbury sjDANCEco Urban Bush Women Whim W'Him L.A. Dance Project
Other	Chicago Dance Crash Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater Ice Theatre of New York The LXD The Rockettes

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