Jerome Robbins

Jerome Robbins, born Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz, was an American dancer, choreographer, film director, theatre director, and producer. He worked in classical ballet, on stage, film, and television. His many stage productions include On the Town, Peter Pan, High Button Shoes, The King and I, The Pajama Game, Bells Are Ringing, West Side Story, Gypsy, and Fiddler on the Roof.

Robbins won five Tony Awards and received the Kennedy Center Honors. He also earned two Academy Awards, including the 1961 Academy Award for Best Director with Robert Wise for West Side Story, plus a special Academy Honorary Award for his work in film choreography.

A documentary about his life and work, called Something to Dance About, showed clips from his journals, old performances, and interviews. It premiered on PBS in 2009 and won both an Emmy and a Peabody Award that same year.

Early life

Jerome Robbins was born as Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz in a hospital in Manhattan, a place with many new families from different countries. His parents were Lena and Harry Rabinowitz, and he had an older sister named Sonia. The family lived in a big apartment in Manhattan and later moved to Weehawken, New Jersey. His father and uncle started a business making special clothing.

Robbins loved dancing and started learning different styles in high school. After finishing school, he tried studying chemistry at New York University but decided to focus on dance instead. He joined a dance group and began performing on stage, taking on many new dance styles and learning from great teachers.

Career

1930s and 40s

In the 1930s, Jerome Robbins studied acting and began dancing in Broadway shows. He started creating dances for a summer resort and later joined a famous ballet company. During this time, he created ballet pieces and worked with well-known musicians and designers.

Robbins began making musicals for Broadway in the 1940s. His first big success was On the Town, which helped start his career on stage. He worked with talented writers and directors, and his shows often broke new ground, like being one of the first to include diverse performers.

1950s

In the 1950s, Robbins kept creating popular shows. He worked on famous musicals like The King and I and West Side Story, which told a modern story inspired by a classic play. He also continued to work in ballet, creating new dances and performances.

1960s

During the 1960s, Robbins helped save some struggling shows by improving their direction and choreography. He also directed a famous movie version of West Side Story and won awards for his work. His musical Fiddler on the Roof became a huge hit and ran for many years.

1970s and 1980s

In later years, Robbins focused more on ballet but still returned to Broadway occasionally. He created special shows that showcased his best work and received many awards for his contributions to dance and theater.

1990s

In the 1990s, Robbins faced health challenges but continued to work on ballet performances until shortly before his death in 1998. His influence on dance and theater remained strong, and he was honored by many in the entertainment community.

Personal life

Jerome Robbins had relationships with several people, including Montgomery Clift, Nora Kaye, Buzz Miller, and Jess Gerstein. As a former Communist Party member, he shared the names of others who were part of the party when he spoke before the House Un-American Activities Committee. This created tension with some of his fellow artists, such as actors Jack Gilford and Zero Mostel, who were blacklisted and did not agree with his actions. Despite this, he continued to work with people like Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Laurents on projects such as West Side Story.

Awards

Jerome Robbins shared the Academy Award for Best Director with Robert Wise for the film version of West Side Story in 1961. That same year, he received a special award for his work in dance from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Robbins won five Tony Awards, two Academy Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors in 1981, the National Medal of Arts in 1988, and the French Legion of Honor. He also received special honors from universities and arts groups.

In 1995, Robbins asked his foundation to create an award for outstanding people or institutions in the arts, especially dance. The first two awards were given in 2003 to the New York City Ballet and lighting designer Jennifer Tipton.

Broadway productions and notable ballets

Jerome Robbins was very talented and worked on many shows and dances. He helped create famous musicals like On the Town, The King and I, West Side Story, and Fiddler on the Roof. He also choreographed many ballets and won several Tony Awards for his work. His creativity made many beloved shows come to life on stage.