1998 32c Ballet

US #3237
1998 American Ballet

• Honors the 50^th anniversary of the New York City Ballet

Stamp Category: Commemorative
Value: 32¢, First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue: September 16, 1998
First Day City: New York, New York
Quantity Issued: 130,750,000
Printed by: Ashton-Potter (USA) Ltd.
Printing Method: Offset, Microprint
Format: Pane of 20
Perforations: 10.9 X 11.1

Why the stamp was issued: the stamp was issued in honor of the 50^th anniversary of the New York City Ballet. 

About the stamp design: Photographer Philip Channing took many photos of a high school ballet student in various poses. The classic pose was chosen for the stamp.  The black background silhouettes the dancer.

Special design details: The year, 1998, is microprinted on the toe of the dancer’s foot that she is standing on.

First Day City: The stamp was dedicated at the New York State Theater as part of the 50 anniversary of the New York City Ballet.

History the stamp represents: The roots of ballet can be traced to Italy during the Renaissance, when people developed a great interest in culture and learning. At that time, the dukes who ruled the country grew very wealthy, and they promoted the arts. However, historians consider the French work Ballet Comique de la Reine to be the first formal ballet performance. Lasting over five hours, it was staged in 1581 in honor of a royal wedding.
Ballet Comique de la Reine established Paris as the ballet capital of the world, and professional dancing began there. Until then, the dancers were noblemen and noblewomen who danced to please their rulers.
Russian-born George Balanchine, who established the School of American Ballet, contributed much to ballet dancing here. Mikhail Baryshnikov, world-famous Russian dancer, defected to the West in 1974 and soon joined the American Ballet Theatre in New York City. During the 1980s, he served as director of the school. Other leading American dancers include Robert Joffrey, Nora Kaye, and Arthur Mitchell.
Today, ballet performers must be believable actors and actresses as well as expert dancers. The art has undergone many changes in recent years, including dances set to popular rather than classical music.