Giovanni Villalobos and Sterling Hyltin in Christopher Wheeldon’s Rococo Variations. Photograph: Paul Kolnik.

The Kirov corps de ballet of Shades in La Bayadère at the Kennedy Center, Washington. Photograph: Linda Spillers.

Maria Kowroski and Tyler Angle in Mauro Bigonzetti’s Oltremare. Photograph: Paul Kolnik.

Damian Woetzel in the title role of George Balanchine’s ballet The Prodigal Son. Photograph: Paul Kolnik.

Darci Kistler (the Sleepwaker) and Nikolaj Hübbe (th Poet) in George Balanchine’s La Sonnambula. Photograph: Paul Kolnik.

Damian Woetzel and Tiler Peck in Christopher Wheeldon’s Carousel (A Dance). Photograph: Paul Kolnik.

New York City Ballet in George Balanchine’s Emeralds. Photograph: Paul Kolnik.

The closing image of the New York City Ballet production of George Balanchine’s production of The Nutcracker on its 2000th performance. Photograph: Paul Kolnik.

Alina Cojocaru and Rupert Pennefather in the Royal Ballet’s producton of George Balanchine’s Diamonds. Photograph: Johan Persson.

Frederick Earl Mosley’s Saddle Up, danced by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Photograph: Nan Melville.

Maurice Béjart’s Firebird, danced by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre

Elisabeth Holowchuk and Matthew Prescott of the Suzanne Farrell Ballet in George Balanchine’s Pithoprakta. Photograph: Linda Spillers.

Jeffrey Golladay, Maria Riccetto, Kristi Boone, and others In American Ballet Theatre production of Twyla Tharp’s “Baker’s Dozen”. Photograph: Andrea Mohin

Marcelo Gomes and Julie Kent in Antony Tudor’s The Leaves are Fading. Photograph: Andrea Mohin.

Jennifer Carlynn Kronenberg and other Miam City Ballet dancers in George Balanchine’s Emeralds. Photograph: Joe Gato.

Soledad Barrio and members of Noche Flamenca. Photograph: Andrea Mohin.

Merce Cunningham in his dance Signals. Photograph: James Klosty.