Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (ballet) illness, as well as from Peter Martins, who choreographed one scene near the end of the ballet. By staging the ballet with the New York City Opera instead of Balanchine's customary New York City Ballet, the production was able to use Nureyev, who was not a member of NYCB. Costumes and sets were designed by Rouben Ter-Arutunian. The premiere took place on 8 April 1979 at the New York State Theater, Lincoln Center, as part of a double bill with Henry Purcell's short opera "Dido and Aeneas". 1979 opening night cast: On 22 May 1980, the New York City Ballet
Oklahoma City Ballet celebrating Oklahoma’s 60th year of statehood. In 1970 the Board of Trustees formed a new group, Oklahoma City Metropolitan Ballet Society and with the generous support of Vernon Pellow, Sr. the company began as the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Ballet with Yvonne Chouteau staying on as founding artistic director. Ballerina and Oklahoma native Maria Tallchief worked together with Ms. Chouteau to audition dancers for the company. Yvonne Chouteau was succeeded by New York City Ballet principal dancers Conrad and Joy Ludlow, who directed the Company from 1973–1979. The Ludlow’s founded the company’s affiliate school and joined Oklahoma City's Allied Arts organization.