1950s John Butler Dance Co. and Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival
1951
Glen Tetley performs for the first time at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Beckett, Massachussetts the summer of 1951. Tetley performed in an allegorical ballet by Kate Forbes titled "Handel's Garden". In this ballet, Tetley and Adelino Palomanos were cast as "The Embodied Statues of Mars and Apollo". In other weeks of the festival, Tetley performed in the Myra Kinch ballet "Along Appointed Sands" and a ballet by Tilda Morse called "Portrait of a Frontier Town".
Glen Tetley performing at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival as "The Embodied Statue of Apollo" in a ballet by Kate Forbes titled "Handel's Garden". Photographer unknown.
1951
Tetley appeared in the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti’s opera Amahl and the Night Visitors on NBC television. Amahl and the Night Visitors was the first network television Christmas special to become an annual tradition. From 1951 until 1966 it was presented every year on NBC (which commissioned Menotti to write it) on or around Christmas eve. The 1951 premiere cast starred Chet Allen as Amahl and ballet stars Melissa Hayden, Nicholas Magallanes, and Glen Tetley as the Dancing Shepherds. John Butler was the choreographer for this televised production.
Glen Tetley performing in NBC's 1952 televised production of "Amahl and the Night Visitors". Pictured from left to right are John Butler, Mary Hinkson, and Glen Tetley.
1953
Glen Tetley performs again at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, this time as part of the John Butler Dance Company. Tetley and Felisa Conde premiered the Butler ballet "Masque of the Wild Man" at this festival. They also performed several ballets John Butler choreographed for the New York City Opera productions such as the Bell Dance from "Pagliacci", the Triumphal Dance scene from "Aida", the Shepherd's Dance from "Amahl and the Night Visitor's", the ballet from "La Cenerentola", and the "Sixth Door" from "Bluebeard's Castle".
Glen Tetley and Felisa Conde costumed for John Butler's ballet "Masque of the Wild Man". Photographer unknown.
Glen Tetley and Felisa Conde costumed for John Butler's ballet from "Bluebeard's Castle" circa 1953. Photo credit: Bennett and Pleasant
1954
Tetley returns to perform at the 1954 Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Tetley performed two ballets by Pearl Lang including "Rites" and a soloist role in "Joy is My Witness". Tetley also performed two pieces of John Butler choreography: "The Brass World" and the world premiere of "Three Promenades with the Lord".
1956
Tetley performs in the inaugural season of the Joffrey Ballet (called at the time the Robert Joffrey Theatre Ballet), founded by Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino.
1957
Tetley danced with Martha Graham's company from 1957-59. Graham was unable to pay her company, so Tetley left to join the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) from 1959-61. Here, Tetley performed in ballets such as "Miss Julie" and "Jardin aux Lilas" (Lilac Garden). Tetley also originated the role of Wangel, a widower, in ABT's April 1960 world premiere of "Lady From the Sea" choreographed by Birgit Cullberg.
