1937–1938 (I)

After the collapse of the American Ballet, Balanchine turned his attention to work on Broadway and in Hollywood. In the course of his work as choreographer for the Samuel Goldwyn film The Goldwyn Follies he collaborated with the Gershwin brothers, Vernon Duke, and his future wife and artistic partner Vera Zorina. He subsequently joined the creative team for two additional Rodgers and Hart shows, I Married an Angel and The Boys from Syracuse, and also contributed to the short-lived production Great Lady. These shows allowed him to create opportunities for his new wife Zorina as well as secure work for many of the dancers of the American Ballet. Although prior accounts have discounted the significance of these ventures in Balanchine’s career, he saw them as an important and viable outlet for bringing ballet to American audiences.