In 1939, Pleasant and Chase developed big ideas to create "a large scale company with an eclectic repertory".[1][4] They and a small group from Mordorkin Ballet formed Ballet Theatre and held their first performance on 11 January 1940.[1][5] Chase began developing the company's repertoire of well-known full-length ballets, as well as original works, amidst financial issues, until in 1945 Oliver Smith joined Ballet Theatre and became co-director with Chase. In 1957 the company changed its name to "American Ballet Theatre" and continued to focus on ballet classics with continued financial issues until, during the 1960s and 1970s, financial conditions with the company were favorable due to private funding. During this period, American Ballet Theatre shifted its focus to recruiting ballet stars.
In 1977, the company began its spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House, its new official venue, then in 1980 Mikhail Baryshnikov became Artistic Director for American Ballet Theatre. Baryshnikov staged, restaged, and refurbished numerous classical ballets and, according to the company, strengthened their classical tradition. Baryshnikov was replaced by Jane Hermann and Oliver Smith in 1989, and the pair remained as Artistic Directors until in 1992 Kevin McKenzie was appointed. McKenzie satisfied the demands of the traditional ballet audience by prioritizing full-length narrative ballets as well as succeeding in keeping the company afloat during financially unstable times. He established an official associate school in 2004, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and appointed Alexei Ratmansky as "Artist in Residence" in January 2009 after a long period of no in-house choreographer.[6][7]
Ballet del Teatro Argentino de La Plata Ballet Argentino Barcelona Ballet (former Corella Ballet Castilla y León) Compañia de Danza Comtemporánea de Cuba Boston Ballet New York City Ballet Sapporo Ballet
Perhaps no other choreographer was as closely associated with ABT as the great British choreographer Antony Tudor, who made his American debut with the company. The other continuous creative force was the legendary Agnes de Mille. She staged the majority of her ballet works with them. Many choreographers have mounted works especially for ABT, including George Balanchine, Adolph Bolm, Michel Fokine, Léonide Massine, and Bronislava Nijinska. Other renowned choreographers who have worked at ABT include Jerome Robbins, Twyla Tharp, and Alvin Ailey.
^"Dancers: Principals: Victor Barbee". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on April 9, 2003. Retrieved February 16, 2012. joined ABT in February 1975, was promoted to soloist in 1979, and to principal dancer in 1984
^"Summer Intensives Faculty: Leslie Browne". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved February 16, 2012. joined ABT as a soloist in 1976, was promoted to principal dancer in 1986
^"choreographers: Anton Dolin". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joined Ballet Theatre (now ABT) at its inception in 1940, remaining until 1946 as a dancer and choreographer
^"Choreographers: Cynthia Gregory". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved February 16, 2012. joined the ABT in 1965, was quickly promoted to a principal dancer
^
Debra Craine and Judit Mackrell (January 1, 2000). "Harvey, Cynthia". The Oxford Dictionary of Dance. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
^"Susan Jaffe Named Ballet Mistress With American Ballet Theatre". Press Release. American Ballet Theatre. June 11, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joined ABT in December 1980, became a soloist in 1981, was promoted to principal dancer in 1983, retired from American Ballet Theatre in 2002
^"Robert La Fosse". Barnard College Department of Dance. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joined American Ballet Theatre in 1977, where he danced as a principal dancer for nine years
^"Choreographers: Kevin McKenzie". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joined ABT as a soloist in March 1979, was appointed a principal dancer the following December, and danced with the company until 1991
^"Dancers: Principals: Amanda McKerrow". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on May 27, 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet in 1982, was appointed a soloist in 1983, and a principal dancer in 1987
^"Danilo Radojevic, Associate Artistic Director". The Australian Ballet. Retrieved February 16, 2012. left The Australian Ballet to become a Soloist with ABT, with the company for 15 years, was promoted to principal dancer in 1981
^"Johan Renvall". Ballet Arts. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joined ABT in 1978, was promoted to soloist in 1981, and to principal dancer in 1987, retired in 1996
^"Alumni: Keith Roberts". UNCSA School of Dance. Retrieved February 16, 2012. joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet in 1987, was appointed soloist in 1992, and principal dancer in 1997
^"Dancers: Principals: Ashley Tuttle". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on August 15, 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joined the corps de ballet of ABT in 1987, was promoted to soloist in 1992, and to principal dancer in 1997
^"Dancers: Principals: Michele Wiles". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2012. joined ABT in 1998, was promoted to soloist in 2000, and to principal dancer in 2005
^"Dancers: Soloists: Ethan Brown". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on February 11, 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet in 1981, was promoted to soloist in 1988
^
David Vaughan (July 6, 2004). "Ethan Brown's Retirement". danceviewtimes.com. Retrieved February 11, 2012. July 2 & 3, 2004
^"Summer Intensives Faculty: Leslie Browne". American Ballet Theatre. Retrieved February 16, 2012. joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet in 1980, achieved rank of soloist in 1991, retired in 1996
^"Dancers: Soloists: Sandra Brown". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on March 13, 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joining the corps de ballet of American Ballet Theatre in 1987, was promoted to soloist in 1992
^"Sandra Brown". Colorado Ballet. Retrieved February 11, 2012. In 2003 she left ABT to pursue work as a freelance artist
^"Faculty: Carolyn Tener Brown". New Jersey School of Ballet. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2012. was a soloist with American Ballet Theatre for 7 years{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^"Dancers: Soloists: Carmen Corella". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on July 30, 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet in April 1998, was appointed a soloist in August 2003
^"Dancers: Soloists: Erica Cornejo". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on August 4, 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joined ABT's Studio Company in May 1998, later that year joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet, was appointed a soloist in April 2003
^"Dancers: Soloists: Joaquín De Luz". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on June 26, 2003. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet in 1997, was promoted to soloist in 1998
^"Lisa de Ribere". The School of American Ballet. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joined ABT in 1979 ... soloist ... retired from performing in 1984
^"Ellizzette Duvall". The School of American Ballet. Retrieved February 16, 2001. joined ABT in 1970 soon becoming a soloist, in 1973 ... retired from performing in 1984
^ ab"Houston Ballet Announces New First Soloists, Jared Matthews and Yuriko Kajiya". Houston Ballet. May 7, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014. Jared Matthews and Yuriko Kajiya, currently soloist dancers with American Ballet Theatre (ABT), will join Houston Ballet as first soloists for the 2014/15 season beginning in August 2014
^"Dancers: Soloists: Anna Liceica". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on September 3, 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joined ABT's corps de ballet in 1996, was promoted to soloist in August 2000
^"Dancers: Soloists: Carlos Lopez". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2012. joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet in September 2001, was appointed a soloist in August 2003
^"Staff: Charles Maple, Conservatory Director". Maple Conservatory. Retrieved February 16, 2012. at the age of nineteen he joined ABT, rose through the ranks to become a featured soloist
^"Dancers: Soloists: Carlos Molina". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on May 25, 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012. joining ABT as a member of the corps de ballet in 1998, was appointed a soloist in August 2001
^"ABT: Inside ABT". American Ballet Theatre. April 24, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014. will give his farewell performance with the Company on July 3 at the Metropolitan Opera House in the role of Franz in Coppélia
^"Amy Rose". American Ballet Intensives. Retrieved February 16, 2012. joined ABT at the age of sixteen (in 1979), was a soloist with from 1979–1992
^"Dancers: Corps De Ballet: Maria Bystrova". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2012. joined ABT's Studio Company (now ABT II) in August 1999, joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet in August 2000
^"The Artist". Tobin Eason. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2013. Creating artwork soon become a passion, which has continued since his retirement from American Ballet Theatre in 2012
^"Dancers: Corps De Ballet: Meaghan Hinkis". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2012. joined ABT as an apprentice in March 2010, became a member of the corps de ballet in October 2010
^"Dancers: Corps De Ballet: Isaac Stappas". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2012. spent two years in ABT's Studio Company before joining ABT's main company in 2000
^"Dancers: Corps De Ballet: Sarawanee Tanatanit". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on April 20, 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2012. joined ABT's Studio Company in 2001, joined ABT as an apprentice in August 2002, and the corps de ballet in January 2003
^"Dancers: Corps De Ballet: Mary Mills Thomas". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2012. joined ABT's Studio Company (now ABT II) in Fall 2005, joined ABT as an apprentice in August 2007, and the corps de ballet in January 2008
^"Dancers: Corps De Ballet: Melissa Thomas". American Ballet Theatre. Archived from the original on April 20, 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2012. joined ABT's Studio Company in Fall 2001, joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet in August 2002
^http://[ballettothepeople.com/2011/12/27/the-never-ending-scandal-of-the-tutu/ The Never Ending Scandal of the Tutu, Ballettothepeople.com, December 27, 2011]
