A photo of ballet slippers lined up on a white background.

Getty Images

#TBT Video: The Birth of Balanchine's "Agon"

November 28, 2001

Move over, Nutcracker. In December of 1957, New York City Ballet premiered George Balanchine’s iconic black and white ballet, Agon, with Diana Adams and Arthur Mitchell dancing the leads. Below is a clip of the originals performing the work.

Company Life

A group of eight ballerinas in red tutus kneel on their right knee in two diagonal lines and gesture toward a lead principal couple to their right. The principal ballerina, in a red tutus and gold tiara, poses in an attitude front on pointe with her right arm raised and her left hand on her hip. Her male partner stands behind her in tendu, holding her waist with his right hand and raising his left arm up.

Career

Madison Ballet Comes Into Its Own Under Director Ja’ Malik

Steve Sucato

Seven ballerinas are photographed from above in the house of a theater. They stand side by side in front of a row of seats, wearing white practice tutus and leotards and their hair pulled back into buns. They fold their hands in their lap and look up with small smiles towards the camera.

Career

For These Estonian National Ballet Dancers, Strong Friendships Are Key to Career Fulfillment

Christie Seaver

Tamas Detrich teaches class in a large ballet studio full of professional dancers. He holds his left arm out in second position and looks out over it, while touching his chest with his right hand to demonstrate an open feeling. He wears a black shirt with the words Stuttgart Ballet on it in white, a dark, unzipped hoodie sweatshirt, and blue sweatpants.

Career

Stuttgart Ballet Channels the Past, Present and Future

Lucy Van Cleef

Alexandra Jones and Lindsey Donnell do a piqué first arabesque on pointe facing into each other in a large dance studio, with Jones on the left and Donnell on the right. Jones wears a royal blue leotard with pink tights pulled over it, pink legwarmers and pink pointe shoes. Donnell wears a royal blue high-neck leotard, a short black ballet skirt, and brown pointe shoes. They look out towards the camera and smile.

Career

Two DTH Dancers Come Full-Circle Through Mentorship

Kirsten Evans

More Company Life

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

#TBT Video: The Birth of Balanchine's "Agon"

Company Life

Madison Ballet Comes Into Its Own Under Director Ja’ Malik

For These Estonian National Ballet Dancers, Strong Friendships Are Key to Career Fulfillment

Stuttgart Ballet Channels the Past, Present and Future

Two DTH Dancers Come Full-Circle Through Mentorship

@PointeMagazineOfficial

@Pointe_Magazine

@pointemagazineofficial

youtube.com/c/PointeMagazine

pinterest.com/pointemagazine

linkedin.com/showcase/pointe-magazine/

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!