NYCB Archive

Photo © Heather Heckman, Courtesy of NYCB Archives

"Nothing is more frail or transient than a ballet.” So wrote Lincoln Kirstein in 1983. Knowing how correct he was, New York City Ballet, in 1999, created the New York City Ballet Archives. The commitment of the NYCB Archives is to protect and organize archival materials, ranging from documents, photographs and videotapes to costumes, musical scores and scenic designs, as well as correspondence and original print media while also providing limited public access to scholars, students, and other professionals in the field of dance.

In the years since, restoration and conservation of important items has been undertaken, specific policies regarding access to collections have been developed, and strategies for active archiving in the future have been determined.  While a vast amount of archival work remains to be accomplished, since its establishment, the NYCB Archives has developed into a rich and comprehensive trove of dance treasures.

An overview of the NYCB Archive collections includes the: Ballet Society Collection, New York City Ballet Collection, School of American Ballet Collection, George Balanchine Trust Collection, and Tanaquil Le Clerq Personal Archive.