San Francisco Ballet group of his students, he founded the Utah Civic Ballet (now known as Ballet West) in 1963; the company remained under Christensen's directorship until 1978. Under Balanchine's tutelage at American Ballet, Lew Christensen became the first American-born "danseur noble". The United States Army drafted Christensen to fight in World War II. After the war ended, he joined Balanchine's and Lincoln Kirstein's Ballet Society (soon to become New York City Ballet), eventually becoming ballet master; he served in the role from 1946 until 1950. In 1951, he joined his brother Willam as co-director of San Francisco Ballet. When Willam moved to
San Mateo Creek (San Francisco Bay Area) San Mateo Creek (San Francisco Bay Area) San Mateo Creek ("Spanish for": St. Matthew Creek) is a perennial stream whose watershed includes Crystal Springs Reservoir, for which it is the only natural outlet after passing Crystal Springs Dam. After discovering San Francisco Bay from Sweeney Ridge on November 4, 1769, the Portolà expedition descended what Portolà called the "Cañada de San Francisco", now San Andreas Creek (or possibly San Mateo Creek), both of which emptied into the "Laguna Grande" where the party camped (now covered by the Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir). The Laguna Grande place name is also shown on