# American Negro Ballet Company

The American Negro Ballet Company, also known as the von Grona Ballet, was formed in 1934 under the auspices of Eugene Von Grona, a German dancer and choreographer, who was fascinated by Black culture and dance. The company performed classical ballet pieces, as well as modern dance works.

## History
### Performances

The American Negro Ballet had its debut performance at the Lafayette Theatre on November 21, 1937. Dean Dixon conducted an all-Negro orchestra that accompanied the opening night program. The dancers performed to Bacchanalian Children of the Earth (music by Reginald Foresythe), St. Louis Women (music by W. C. Handy), Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite (music by phonograph), and to the music of Duke Ellington.
After its debut, the company performed in Brighton, England, in 1938.

### Company disbandment and reformation

The American Negro Ballet had a brief tenure, disbanding in 1938. The following year, the company reformed as "Von Grona's American Negro Ballet." Many members of the original American Negro Ballet joined Von Grona’s group and were featured dancers in Lew Leslie’s Blackbird of 1939, an all-black production starring Lena Horne and choreography by Von Grona.
In addition, several original members of the American Negro Ballet performed with the Negro Symphony Orchestra in 1939, and in Agnes de Mille’s Black Ritual (Obeah), which had its 1940 world premiere as part of Ballet Theatre’s inaugural season.
DeMille's work was specifically designed for black and brown ballerinas.

## Company members

The American Negro Ballet was originally composed of twenty to thirty jazz dancers who were recruited to perform in a modern dance concert. The company's principals included Lavinia Williams, Al Bledger, Coleman Hill, Harry Young, and Beryl James, who danced in the group's production of Stravinsky's "Firebird."
| First | Last | American Negro Ballet (ANB) | Lew Leslie’s Blackbird of 1939 (LEW) | Negro Symphony Orchestra Concert (NSC) | Black Ritual (Obeah) (BRO) |
| Teddy | Allen | ANB | | NSC | |
| Carole | Ash | | | | BRO |
| Maudelle | Bass | | | | BRO |
| Valerie | Black | ANB | | | BRO |
| Verona | Blackburn | | LEW | | |
| Al | Bledger | ANB | LEW | NSC | |
| Marion | Brown | ANB | LEW | NSC | |
| Valerie | Cavell | | | NSC | |
| Beryl Theodore | Clarke James | ANB | LEW | NSC | |
| Clementina | Collingwood | | | | BRO |
| Muriel | Cook | | | | BRO |
| Azelean | Cox | | | | BRO |
| Jon | Edward(s) | ANB | | NSC | |
| Anthony | Fleming | ANB | | NSC | |
| Viola | Gibson | ANB | | NSC | |
| Violet | Gray | | LEW | | |
| Frank | Green | ANB | | NSC | |
| Mabel | Hart | | | | BRO |
| Coleman | Hill | ANB | LEW | NSC | |
| Edith | Hurd | | LEW | | BRO |
| Anne | Jones | | | | BRO |
| Dorothy | Jones Williams | ANB | LEW | NSC | |
| Lawuane | Kennard | | | | BRO |
| Beryl | Murray | | LEW | | |
| Harriet | Oliver | ANB | | NSC | |
| Evelyn | Pilcher Crittenden | ANB | | NSC | BRO |
| Renu | Roma | | LEW | | |
| Edith | Ross | | LEW | NSC | BRO |
| James | Smith | ANB | | NSC | |
| Pearl | Spears | ANB | | NSC | |
| Hazel | Spence | ANB | LEW | NSC | |
| Hettie | Stephens | ANB | LEW | NSC | |
| Wahneta | Talley | ANB | LEW | NSC | |
| Willard | Taylor | ANB | LEW | NSC | |
| Mary | Tennant | | LEW | | |
| Elizabeth | Thompson | | | NSC | BRO |
| Dorothy | Williams | | | | BRO |
| Elizabeth | Williams | | LEW | | |
| Lavinia | Williams | ANB | LEW | NSC | BRO |
| Bernice | Willis | | | | BRO |
| Harry | Young | ANB | | NSC | |