a biography of Balanchine?

[silvy]

I wonder if there is a biography of Balanchine that concentrates more on him as a person, not as a choreographer? Everything I have read so far is very much focused in his work, the NYCB, etc.

silvy

[Alexandra]

Balanchine always said "it's all in the programs." He's one of those artists whose life does seem to have been in the theater. But no, there's no biography I know of that omits his work and concentrates on him as a person.

[dirac]

There's no equivalent among Balanchine books to Julie Kavanagh's "Secret Muses" biography of Ashton. Richard Buckle's book has something of what you're looking for, and Moira Shearer's "Balletmaster" although not impressive as a whole, has some shrewd observations. Arlene Croce's long-awaited book is due shortly, but I don't know where her emphasis will lie -- others might know more. Otherwise, I'd check out the books by ex-wives: Tamara Geva, Alexandra Danilova (a sort of wife:)), Zorina, and Tallchief have all weighed in. All of them are discreet, but there is some interesting reading to be done in the (vast) spaces between the lines. Francis Mason's collection of interviews, "I Remember Balanchine" is an excellent source regarding issues both aesthetic and personal.

[Guest Alice172]

I used this book: "Balanchine" by Bernard Taper for an extensive multi-genre project on Balanchine for an English project last year. I really enjoyed it and yes, it does talk about his work, but that sort of is his life yea? It also does have a lot of personal information as well. I recommend it!

Edited May 15, 2004 by Alexandra

[Ari]

Terry Teachout's book, All in the Dances, A Brief Life of George Balanchine, will be published by Harcourt in November.