1966 – The Royal Ballet performs George Balanchine’s Apollo for the first time

First performed by Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in 1928, George Balanchine’s Apollo was only the fourth work by Balanchine to enter The Royal Ballet’s repertoire after Ballet Imperial in 1950 and Serenade in 1964 for the main company and the short-lived Trumpet Concerto for Sadler’s Wells Theatre Ballet in 1950. It was not to be the last, as The Royal Ballet slowly opened up to outside influences. The Royal Ballet’s new production in 1966, with designs by John Craxton, was danced by Donald MacLeary, Svetlana Beriosova, Monica Mason and Georgina Parkinson.