Agon is the Greek word for contest, and this Balanchine-Stravinsky collaboration was originally intended to complete a triad of ballets by the same collaborators on Greek themes, along with Apollo and Orpheus. Merrill Ashley holds the distinction of being one of the final dancers to be entirely trained and coached by Balanchine, and she had been with the New York City Ballet for twenty years at the time of this performance. Australian-born John Meehan had been a principal dancer with both the Australian Ballet and American Ballet Theatre before he began guesting with New York City Ballet in the mid-1980s, often partnering Ashley. Both Ashley and Meehan are now active as teachers and coaches.
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