American Negro Ballet Company
Name Entries
corporateBody
American Negro Ballet Company
Name Components
Name :
American Negro Ballet Company
Von Grona Ballet
Name Components
Name :
Von Grona Ballet
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Exist Dates
Biographical History
The American Negro Ballet Company was formed by Eugene von Grona in 1934. Von Grona, a modern dancer trained by German choreographer Mary Wigman, immigrated to the United States in 1925. He formed the ANB, composed of thirty African-American dancers, among them Lavinia Williams and Al Bledger, to showcase their talents as serious dance artists capable of more than jazz dancing.
The American Negro Ballet Company debuted at Harlem's Lafayette Theater on November 21, 1937. The company's original program, conducted by Dean Dixon, included Stravinsky's "Firebird" as well as pieces choreographed by von Grona to the music of Duke Ellington and W.C. Handy. The premier was a critical and popular success however, the American Negro Ballet Company survived for barely a year before its demise in 1938. Von Grona re-formed the company as "Von Grona's American Swing Ballet" in 1939, when they appeared in producer Lew Leslie's "Blackbirds" as well as other venues.
The American Negro Ballet Company was formed by Eugene von Grona in 1934. Von Grona, a modern dancer trained by German choreographer Mary Wigman, immigrated to the United States in 1925. He formed the ANB, composed of thirty African-American dancers, among them Lavinia Williams and Al Bledger, to showcase their talents as serious dance artists capable of more than jazz dancing.
The American Negro Ballet Company debuted at Harlem's Lafayette Theater on November 21, 1937. The company's original program, conducted by Dean Dixon, included Stravinsky's "Firebird" as well as pieces choreographed by von Grona to the music of Duke Ellington and W.C. Handy. The premier was a critical and popular success however, the American Negro Ballet Company survived for barely a year before its demise in 1938. Von Grona re-formed the company as "Von Grona's American Swing Ballet" in 1939, when they appeared in producer Lew Leslie's "Blackbirds" as well as other venues.
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External Related CPF
https://viaf.org/viaf/130642663
https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-nr99040606
https://id.loc.gov/authorities/nr99040606
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Languages Used
Subjects
African American dance
African Americans in the performing arts
Ballet companies
Ballet companies
Ballet dancers
Ballet dancers
Dance, Black
Dance companies
Dance companies
Dancers
Dancers
Nationalities
Activities
Occupations
Legal Statuses
Places
United States
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Convention Declarations
<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>