Betty Nichols and Lew Christensen
Because Betty Nichols attended the School of American Ballet and subsequently joined Ballet Society, she was given the opportunity to perform in Lew Christensen’s Blackface. This ballet was a minstrel-themed production created for Ballet Society in 1947. Nichols originated this role in addition to her role in Todd Bolender’s Zodiac.
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More about Lew Christensen
Lew Christensen started his career as a dancer, becoming a principal and/or ballet master with Ballet Society, New York City Ballet, and Ballet Caravan. As a choreographer, he created over 100 ballets for major companies such as New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet, the latter of which he was also artistic director from 1951 to 1984. These ballets included The Nutcracker (1954), Beauty and the Beast (1958), Don Juan (1973), and Vivaldi Concerto Grosso (1981).
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The Choreography of Lew Christensen, Lew Christensen
Lew Christensen in “Apollo,” Calisphere
Madeline Crawford