TODAY 95 YEARS AGO Glen Tetley was born in Cleveland, Ohio. By combining classical ballet and modern dance he created a new aesthetic, making him one of the most important choreographers of the 20th century. He started his dance career relatively late at the age of 19. While studying ballet, among others with Antony Tudor and Margaret Craske, he also trained with the great icons of American modern dance Hanya Holm and Martha Graham. These influences, as well as his experience as a dancer with American Ballet Theatre and as a dancer on Broadway, became evident in his own pieces, which he created from 1962 onward. At a time when ballet and modern dance were often seen as antipodes, he invented a bold fusion of the two styles. From 1967 to 1969 Tetley served as co-director of the Nederlands Dans Theater. In 1973, John Cranko invited the American to Stuttgart. Shortly after Cranko's sudden and untimely death, Tetley created his first work for the Stuttgart Ballet: Voluntaries. Unlike other choreographers, he did not create movements exactly on the music; he understood music more atmospherically and, in this way, he challenged the dancers. He also taught them to use their breath effectively and thus changed the movement quality of the company. This guest engagement turned into a directorship and Tetley was appointed Cranko's successor in 1974. He led the company for two years and had a tremendous impact on the Stuttgart Ballet despite his relatively short tenure. Many of his works are still active in the company’s repertoire and can be found in the repertoires of many renowned companies world-wide. He died in Florida in 2007 at the age of 80.

Photo: John Cranko and Glen Tetley, © Gundel Kilian