Yvonne Mounsey, the South African-American ballet dancer was known for the important roles she created in the works of which choreographer who co-founded the New York City Ballet?
Yvonne Mounsey Yvonne Mounsey (2 September 1919 – 29 September 2012) was a South African-American ballet dancer and teacher. Described as "a dancer of glamour, wit, and striking presence," she spent ten years with the New York City Ballet (1949-1959), where she created important roles in the works of George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins.
Ragtime (I) Ragtime (I) is the second of three ballets made by New York City Ballet's co-founder and balletmaster George Balanchine to Igor Stravinsky's 1918 "Ragtime for Eleven Instruments"; with scenery by Robert Drew previously used for Lew Christensen's 1947 work for Ballet Society, "Blackface"; costumes by Karinska and lighting by David Hays. The premiere took place on December 7, 1960, at City Center of Music and Drama, conducted by Robert Irving, as part of a quartet of works titled "Jazz Concert", together with dances by Todd Bolender's "Creation of the World", Francisco Moncion's "Les Biches" and John Taras' "Ebony Concerto". Balanchine's 1966 "Ragtime (II)" was also made for City Ballet; his previous ballet to Stravinsky's "Ragtime" was one of a number of "informal little things" made in St. Petersburg in 1922.