<P> The school was founded by the renowned Russo - Georgian - born choreographer George Balanchine , and philanthropists Lincoln Kirstein and Edward Warburg in 1934 . Balanchine 's self - prescribed edict , `` But first , a school '' , is indicative of his adherence to the ideals of the training that was fostered by the Imperial Ballet School where he received his training . He realized that most great dance companies were fed by an academy closely associated with it . This practice afforded scores of dancers , well versed in the specifics of his technique and choreographic style . Among the teachers there were many Russian emigres who fled the Russian Revolution : Pierre Vladimiroff , Felia Doubrovska , Anatole Oboukhoff , Hélène Dudin , Ludmilla Schollar , Antonina Tumkovsky , and Alexandra Danilova . Their intention was to establish a major classical ballet company in America , which would lead to the formation of today 's New York City Ballet . The school was formed to train and feed dancers into the company . It opened at 637 Madison Avenue with 32 students on January 2 , 1934 , and the students first performed that June . Seventy - five years later , the School was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama . </P>
<P> The school was founded by the renowned Russo - Georgian - born choreographer George Balanchine , and philanthropists Lincoln Kirstein and Edward Warburg in 1934 . Balanchine 's self - prescribed edict , `` But first , a school '' , is indicative of his adherence to the ideals of the training that was fostered by the Imperial Ballet School where he received his training . He realized that most great dance companies were fed by an academy closely associated with it . This practice afforded scores of dancers , well versed in the specifics of his technique and choreographic style . Among the teachers there were many Russian emigres who fled the Russian Revolution : Pierre Vladimiroff , Felia Doubrovska , Anatole Oboukhoff , Hélène Dudin , Ludmilla Schollar , Antonina Tumkovsky , and Alexandra Danilova . Their intention was to establish a major classical ballet company in America , which would lead to the formation of today 's New York City Ballet . The school was formed to train and feed dancers into the company . It opened at 637 Madison Avenue with 32 students on January 2 , 1934 , and the students first performed that June . Seventy - five years later , the School was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama . </P>
who started the school of american ballet and the new york city ballet
who started the school of american ballet and the new york city ballet
George Balanchine Lincoln Kirstein Edward Warburg
George Balanchine Lincoln Kirstein Edward Warburg