The Weight Of Keeping Balanchine Alive

“Since Balanchine’s death in 1983, the company he founded has been run by Peter Martins, the former star who has been responsible for teaching a new generation of dancers the works of one of the 20th century’s greatest innovators. Beloved as he was onstage, Martins’s backstage role has made him a lightning rod for blame. Throughout his tenure, critics have complained that the Balanchine repertoire has faded, has lost its vitality. When the vibrancy of a performance appears to dim, it’s not as easy to renew as colors on silk and tulle.”