Classes
John Clifford, 2009 Ballet Master
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Click the link above to see a preview of John Clifford's latest project, Casablanca The Dance |
John Clifford is best known as founder and artistic director of the original Los Angeles Ballet, and a principal dancer and choreographer with New York City Ballet. He is widely considered to be Balanchine's choreographic protege.
Trained in Los Angeles, John Clifford's early work was for the Western Ballet Association, where he was a principal dancer and choreographer. After viewing rehearsals of Mr. Clifford's ballets, George Balanchine invited Clifford to move to New York and choreograph for his School of American Ballet.
In 1966, at the age of 19, he joined the New York City Ballet where he quickly became a principal dancer and resident choreographer. During his tenure there he choreographed numerous ballets and danced leading roles in many ballets. Mr. Clifford was the first American male guest artist in history to dance with the Paris Opera Ballet.
Most recently, Mr. Clifford premiered his new ballet, Casablanca The Dance, based on the Warner Bros. movie classic at The Great Hall of The People in Tiananmen Square. This project is Warner Bros. first venture into live theatre.