Great performances turns 30.It's hard to believe that more than thirty years ago there was no long-running television program in the United States that was devoted entirely to dance. Until the Great Performances: Dance in America series, which began in 1976 on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, ), there were only sporadic attempts to bring great classical and contemporary dance into American living rooms. It was during what the series' first producer, Merrill Brockway, describes as the golden era for public television. This series continues to foster the popularity of great dance--and familiarity with its stars and processes--following much the same format as that devised by Executive Producer Jac Venza--a mix of documentary and performance. Largely produced by New York's WNET/Thirteen, the series has covered a broad spectrum of dance: The Joffrey Ballet, Twyla Tharp Dance, Martha Graham Dance Company, American Ballet Theatre American Ballet Theatre, one of the foremost international dance companies of the 20th cent. It was founded in 1937 as the Mordkin Ballet and reorganized as the Ballet Theatre in 1940 under the direction of Lucia Chase and Rich Pleasant. , Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Dance Theatre of Harlem Dance Theatre of Harlem, the first black classical ballet company. The group was founded in Harlem, New York City, by Arthur Mitchell, then of the New York City Ballet, the first black principal dancer of a classical company of international standing. , Pilobolus Dance Theatre, the Paul Taylor Dance Company Paul Taylor Dance Company, is a contemporary dance company, formed by Paul Taylor, an American choreographers of the 20th century. One of the early touring companies of American modern dance, the Company has "performed in more than 500 cities in 62 countries"[1] , San Francisco Ballet San Francisco Ballet, or SFB, is a San Francisco, USA based ballet company, founded in 1933 as part of San Francisco Opera Ballet. The company is currently based in the War Memorial Opera House, where it is directed by Helgi Tomasson. , the Feld Ballet, "Katherine Dunham and Her People," "Bournonville Dances," Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, New York City Ballet New York City Ballet, one of the foremost American dance companies of the 20th cent. It was founded by Lincoln Kirstein and George Balanchine as the Ballet Society in 1946. , Mark Morris Dance Group, American Indian Dance Theatre, "Gregory Hines's Tap Dance in America," "Holo Mai Pele," and a wide variety of profiles of choreographers, dancers, and trends in dance. The thirtieth anniversary is celebrated visually in a commemorative book, Great Performances: A Celebration (Bay Books, 2003) and memorable great performances broadcast on Dance In America are available on videotape from WNET or through commercial outlets. Watch for upcoming great performances (see stories on page 32 and above). |
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