American Negro Ballet Company

[1][3][5][6] Dean Dixon conducted[2] an all-Negro orchestra that accompanied the opening night program.

"[8] Many members of the original American Negro Ballet joined Von Grona’s group and were featured dancers in Lew Leslie’s Blackbird of 1939, an all-black production starring Lena Horne and choreography by Von Grona.

[1][3][8][9] In addition, several original members of the American Negro Ballet performed with the Negro Symphony Orchestra in 1939,[4][10] and in Agnes de Mille’s Black Ritual (Obeah), which had its 1940 world premiere as part of Ballet Theatre’s inaugural season.

[11][12][13][14] The American Negro Ballet was originally composed of twenty[7] to thirty jazz dancers who were recruited to perform in a modern dance concert.

[2] The company's principals included Lavinia Williams, Al Bledger,[1][2][15] Coleman Hill, Harry Young,[16] and Beryl James, who danced in the group's production of Stravinsky's "Firebird.