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Antony Tudor

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Choreographer

The Resume

    (April 4, 1908-April 19, 1987)
    Born in London, United Kingdom
    Birth name was William Cook
    Ballet dancer and choreographer
    Founded the London Ballet (1938)
    Choreographer for the American Ballet Theater (1939-51) and the New York City Ballet (1951-63)
    Taught at Julliard (1951-71)
    Notable works include 'Adam and Eve' (1932), 'Jardin aux Lilas' ('Lilac Garden,' 1936), 'Dark Elegies' (1937), 'Pillar of Fire' (1942), 'The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet' (1943), 'Undertow' (1945), 'Offenbach in the Underworld' (1954), 'Shadowplay' (1967), and 'Leaves Are Falling' (1975)

Why he might be annoying:

    He changed his name when his ballet teacher told him he would never be taken seriously as 'William Cook.'
    He chose to be a choreographer because he knew that to excel as a dancer he would have to practice steps, which he loathed.
    As an instructor, he believed in breaking down dancers, with one recalling, 'I never knew where I stood with that man, and I am sure many of his students felt the same way.'
    When he was a Kennedy Center honoree, President Ronald Reagan mispronounced his name as 'Tu-dar.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He and George Balanchine were pioneers of psychological ballet, emphasizing character development and emotion.
    An avid film buff, he introduced to ballet cinematic techniques like flashbacks and freezes to develop character.
    When he presented 'Pillar of Fire' with the ABT, Agnes de Mille proclaimed it the greatest English work since the Elizabethan Era.
    Having received a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts to create three ballets for smaller companies and schools, he surprised the NEA by returning the money left over when he finished (1971).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 215 Votes: 60.0% Annoying