Background
Christensen was born in Brigham City, Utah, to a family with roots in dance and music Christensen began studying dance with his uncles and music with his father when he was ten.
Christensen was born in Brigham City, Utah, to a family with roots in dance and music Christensen began studying dance with his uncles and music with his father when he was ten.
1 son, Chris. Soloist, ballet master Ballet Caravan, New York City, 1936-1941, American Ballet, New York City, 1941, Ballet Society, New York City Ballet, 1946-1952. Director San Francisco Ballet, 1952-1984. Member Advisory Committee on Arts, Washington, 1963-1969, California Arts Commission, 1963-1966.
He was largely associated with George Balanchine and the, which he directed from 1952–1984. Other companies Christensen was a part of include, directed by Lincoln Kirstein, and Ballet Society, directed by Kirstein and Balanchine. He was taught early ballet technique by Stefano Mascagno, an Italian teacher.
In addition to small vaudeville shows, the three brothers landed jobs in the Broadway musical The Great Waltz, during which time Christensen became a student at Balanchine"s new School of American Ballet.
In 1935, he joined the Metropolitan Opera"s American Ballet Ensemble with Harold. As soon as Christensen began his training, he received special attention from George Balanchine, who recognized his talent.
Among Balanchine’s first lead male dancers, Christensen danced principal roles, receiving much praise for his lead roles in Orpheus and Eurydice and Apollon Musagete. Christensen, the first American to dance Apollo, set a new standard for that role, and was thereafter considered to be America"s first home grown significant male dancer.
At the onset of World World War II, Lew Christensen was drafted into the United States Army.
On return to New York in 1946 he joined Balanchine"s and Kirstein"s latest project, Ballet Society – later to be known as the New York City Ballet – where he became a ballet master., begun in 1936 by Kirstein, was intended to provide American ballet dancers with summer employment during off-seasons. As a member, Christensen was a lead soloist, choreographer, and ballet master until 1940.
Between 1936 and 1941 ballets Christensen choreographed included Pocahontas (1936), Filling Station (1938), Charade (1939), and Pastorela (1941).
Filling Station incorporated Christensen"s vaudeville roots, acrobats, deadpan humor, and tap dancing. He served as director from 1952–1984.
Christensen transformed the to an internationally recognized neoclassical company. Although he joined the in 1949, Christensen continued to act as ballet master for the New York City Ballet until 1950.
After becoming co-director of the San Francisco company in 1951, he kept a good relationship between it and the New York City Ballet.
He choreographed over 110 works for the He brought impressive choreography from Balanchine to the company. With Christensen as director, made its first tours nationally and internationally and received much acclaim.
Served with Army of the United States, 1942-1946.
Married Giselle Caccialanza, May 10, 1941.