Founded by Mary Day as the Washington School of Ballet in 1944, the company made its Pillow debut in 1960 and returned in 1980, both times still under the direction of its founder. At the time of its 1960 debut, the company was co-directed by Frederic Franklin, who also choreographed and performed on the program. Mary Day was renowned as a great teacher, and her protégés included Kevin McKenzie (now director of American Ballet Theatre) and Amanda McKerrow, a future ABT principal dancer who is seen in this clip at age sixteen. Day formally professionalized the company in 1976, and set it on a path towards greater prominence by hiring Choo-San Goh as its first resident choreographer. The Singapore-born Goh was doubly involved at Jacob’s Pillow at the time of this performance, teaching for six weeks and creating a new work for students in the Pillow’s school. Now under the direction of Julie Kent, The Washington Ballet made a triumphant return to Jacob’s Pillow in 2017.
Read More
