The Mark Morris Dance Group in King Arthur. Photograph : Richard Termine.

Paul Taylor’s work to the music of Stravinsky’s “Petrushka”, “Le Grand Puppetier”.

New York City Ballet in the opening image of George Balanchine’s Serenade. Photograph: Paul Kolnik.

Michael Trusnovec in Paul Taylor’s De Sueños.

Lisa Viola and other dancers of the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Taylor’s Equinox. Photograph: Richard Termine.

Members of the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Taylor’s Arden Court. Photograph: Michelle V. Gains.

From left, Atsugi Mia, Terashima Hiromi, Yamamoto Ryuji and Kawamura Maki rehearsing "Serenade" at the Kennedy Center in Washington. Photograph: Linda Spillers.

Jerome Robbins rehearsing “The Concert” in 1956 with New York City Ballet. New York City Ballet Archives.

Sara Mearns and Charles Askegard in George Balanchine’s “Robert Schumann’s Davidsbündlertänze”. Photograph: Paul Kolnik

Nikolaj Hübbe taking applause after his farewell performance with New York City Ballet. Photograph: Paul Kolnik.

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.