A prolific and popular choreographer, JOHN BUTLER (1918-1993) created works that have been performed by an extraordinary range of ballet and modern dance companies in the United States and Europe. As a choreographic artist he tackled unconventional subjects and clarified their meanings to make an enormously strong impact on his audiences. Butler ballets broke new ground, codifying subject, structure, kinetics, and theatricality for generations of younger choreographers.

For years he was a close collaborator with the composer Gian Carlo Menotti, choreographing many of the impresario's world premiere operas. His extensive knowledge of art and design led to many associations with prominent avant-garde painters, sculptors, musicians and writers, such as Alexander Calder, Andy Warhol, Alban Berg and Ezra Pound. His unique style and choreographic approach has resulted in ballets created on such luminary dancers as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Natalia Makarova, Carla Fracci and Judith Jamison.

Source: John Butler Foundation, Inc.

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Hot Nights, Cool Dance Photo: Will Shively