October 11: Today in Dance

Born Today: Jerome Robbins

Choreographer Jerome Robbins (1918–1998) moved seamlessly between stage and screen and between ballet and Broadway throughout his long career. He began in musical theatre and joined ABT in 1940, creating the ballet Fancy Free in 1944, translating it into a full-length musical On The Town later that year. He choreographed for New York City Ballet into the 1970s and transferred his Broadway hit The King and I to the movies in 1956. In 1957, he conceived of an update of Romeo and Juliet, he titled West Side Story, which he also transferred to film in 1961 (along with co-choreographer Peter Gennaro 1919–2000). Robbins was a well-known “show doctor” and shaped the course of many Broadway shows without credit.

Movie: Oklahoma released in 1955

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