The American Ballet Company, founded in 1934, the American Ballet Theatre, founded in 1939 and the New York City Ballet, founded in 1948, are credited with developing the talents of many notable modern ballerinas. These dance companies helped modern American ballerinas earn national and international acclaim by combining the choreography of traditional ballet with techniques and music from other dance forms. Distinctive dance styles and disciplined training prepared modern ballerinas like Twyla Tharp, Nana Gollner, Diana Adams, Nora Kaye and Agnes de Mille to rise to the challenges of their profession. Nana Gollner was the first modern American ballerina to receive the title of prima ballerina in a European ballet company. Other notable modern American ballerinas are Julie Kent and Heather Watts.
Dance enthusiasts and critics laud Russian ballerinas for their commitment to learning technique, physical strength and talent. Modern ballet took form in Russia in the late 19th century and reflected a social realism. Many of the choreographed ballet pieces were seen as a response to the oppressive Soviet regime. Famous Russian ballerina Olga Khokhlova danced with the Russian ballet company, Ballets Russes. The ballet company was known for including modernistic expression in its choreography. Olga Khokhlova is also well known for being the first wife of painter Pablo Picasso. The most famous Russian ballet dancer, Anna Pavlova, was labeled a classical ballet dancer only after her style of ballet was publicly accepted. Anna Pavlova was known to ignore the rigid rules of ballet and performed with bent knees. She also created what is known as the modern pointe-shoe, by adding a piece of wood on the soles and curving the box of the shoe. Natalia Makarova, Maya Plisetskaya and Tamara Geva are also well known modern Russian ballerinas.
An outstanding modern Spanish ballerina is Cuban born, Alicia Alonso. Alicia Alonso is famous for not being afraid to change ballet techniques. She was blind in one eye and overcame the handicap by practicing hard and demanding the same dedication from her dance partners. She received the Dance Magazine Award in 1958 and the Médaille de la Ville de Paris and Prix Pavlova award in 1966. Another famous Spanish modern ballerina is Argentinian born Paloma Herrera.
Numerous modern ballerinas deserve acknowledgement because of the awards they received for their work and for the fearless emotional style and grace they bring to the art of ballet. While it is impossible to name them all, other outstanding modern ballerinas are Sylvie Guillem, Sono Osato, Marie Rambert, Melissa Hayden and Raven Wilkinson.