Closeup: The New York City Ballet

Peter Martins' "The Sleeping Beauty." Martins, the Ballet Master in Chief of the New York City Ballet, works hard to build a new future for the company - and for the legacy of its founder, George Balanchine.

George Balanchine's "Tchaikovsky Suite No. 3."

Jerome Robbins' "N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz."

Founded in 1948 by George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein, the New York City Ballet quickly became world-renowned for its contemporary style.

George Balanchine's "Symphony in Three Movements."

Balanchine served as the Ballet Master of the New York City Ballet from its founding until his death in 1983.

Christopher Wheeldon's "Polyphonia."

Alexei Ratmansky's "Concerto DSCH," with music by Dmitri Shostakovich.

George Balanchine's "Symphony in Three Movements," featuring music by Igor Stravinsky.

Justin Peck's "In Creases," set to music by Philip Glass, will make its New York City premiere in Spring 2013.

George Balanchine's "Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2," which was first staged by Balanchine for the American Ballet Caravan in May 1941 - a tour which brought the company to South America.

Justin Peck's "Year of the Rabbit." The choreographer's second work for the NYCB, "Year of the Rabbit" is set to American singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens' "Enjoy Your Rabbit," an electronica album and song cycle based on the Chinese zodiac.

Peter Martins' "Fearful Symmetries," set to music by composer John Adams. Martins previously choreographed Adams' "The Chairman Dances."

New York City Ballet's production of George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker."

New York City Ballet's production of George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker." Balanchine's classic production - a holiday favorite - features all 90 dancers of the company, as well as 62 musicians and two casts of 50 young students each from the School of American Ballet.