U.S. #3840-43
2004 37¢ American Choreographers
Issue Date: May 4, 2004
City: Newark, NJ
Quantity: 57,000,000
Printed By: Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd
Printing Method: Lithographed
Perforations: Serpentine die cut 10 ¾
Color: Multicolored
Please note: Due to the layout of the pane, the se-tenant may or may not be provided in Scott Catalogue order.
This set of four commemorates pioneering American choreographers.
Martha Graham (1894-1991), principal founder of American modern dance, created a style of dance based on the interplay of tension and relaxation. The result was choreography and movement that expressed intense emotion.
Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) was one of the leading choreographers of his era. He presented the beauty and complexity of American black culture to a wide audience, blending ballet and modern dance with jazz, blues, and gospel.
In her works, Agnes de Mille (1905-93) blended the classical forms of ballet, the expressive qualities of modern dance, and the traditions of American folk dancing. The result transformed musical comedy into a new American art form with broad public appeal.
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, George Balanchine (1904-83) left Russia in 1924 to tour Western Europe with the Soviet State Dancers; he did not return. Balanchine moved to New York and established the School of American Ballet. “Mr. B,” as the ballet world knew him, created a particularly American style of classical ballet and made the New York City Ballet into one of the finest dance companies in the world.