American Negro Ballet Company

The American Negro Ballet Company, also known as the von Grona Ballet,^[1] was formed in 1934 under the auspices of Eugene Von Grona, a German dancer and choreographer, who was fascinated by Black culture and dance.^[1][2][3] The company performed classical ballet pieces, as well as modern dance works.^[4]

The American Negro Ballet had its debut performance at the Lafayette Theatre on November 21, 1937.^[1][3][5][6] Dean Dixon conducted^[2] an all-Negro orchestra that accompanied the opening night program. ^[7] The dancers performed to Bacchanalian Children of the Earth (music by Reginald Foresythe),^[7] St. Louis Women (music by W. C. Handy),^[7] Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite^[1][3] (music by phonograph),^[7] and to the music of Duke Ellington.^[1][3]

After its debut, the company performed in Brighton, England, in 1938.^[3]

The American Negro Ballet had a brief tenure, disbanding in 1938.^[1] The following year, the company reformed as "Von Grona's American Negro Ballet."^[8] Many members of the original American Negro Ballet joined Von Grona’s group and were featured dancers in Lew Leslie’s Blackbird of 1939, an all-black production starring Lena Horne and choreography by Von Grona.^[1][3][8][9]

In addition, several original members of the American Negro Ballet performed with the Negro Symphony Orchestra in 1939,^[4][10] and in Agnes de Mille’s Black Ritual (Obeah), which had its 1940 world premiere as part of Ballet Theatre’s inaugural season. ^[11][12] DeMille's work was specifically designed for black and brown ballerinas.^{[11][12][13][14]}

The American Negro Ballet was originally composed of twenty^[7] to thirty jazz dancers who were recruited to perform in a modern dance concert.^[2] The company's principals included Lavinia Williams, Al Bledger,^[1][2][15] Coleman Hill, Harry Young,^[16] and Beryl James, who danced in the group's production of Stravinsky's "Firebird."^[17]

• Dance Theatre of Harlem
• Janet Collins
• Misty Copeland
• Virginia Johnson