<P> The school was founded by the renowned Russo - Georgian - born choreographer George Balanchine , and philanthropists Lincoln Kirstein and Edward Warburg in 1934 . Balanchine 's self - prescribed edict , `` But first , a school '' , is indicative of his adherence to the ideals of the training that was fostered by the Imperial Ballet School where he received his training . He realized that most great dance companies were fed by an academy closely associated with it . This practice afforded scores of dancers , well versed in the specifics of his technique and choreographic style . Among the teachers there were many Russian emigres who fled the Russian Revolution : Pierre Vladimiroff , Felia Doubrovska , Anatole Oboukhoff , Hélène Dudin , Ludmilla Schollar , Antonina Tumkovsky , and Alexandra Danilova . Their intention was to establish a major classical ballet company in America , which would lead to the formation of today 's New York City Ballet . The school was formed to train and feed dancers into the company . It opened at 637 Madison Avenue with 32 students on January 2 , 1934 , and the students first performed that June . Seventy - five years later , the School was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama . </P>
who started the school of american ballet and the new york city ballet
George Balanchine Lincoln Kirstein Edward Warburg