"The Rite of Spring" is choreographer Glen Tetley's masterwork, according to Bronwen Curry.

"It is one of his greatest ballets," Curry said during an interview in the Capitol Theatre before rehearsals. "The look, the style — although it was created in 1974, it looks like contemporary ballets as they look today."

Curry, a choreologist (one who preserves dance through written notation), works for Tetley, staging his ballets with various companies. "Glen was, and is, ahead of his time," she said. "He was an innovator. 'Rite of Spring' shows this. The lighting, the costumes — it's just wonderful."

Tetley's "The Rite of Spring" is one of four works to be presented in Ballet West's season closer, "Jubilation." The others include former Ballet West artistic director Bruce Mark's "Lark Ascending" and two Balanchine works, "Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux" and "Concerto Barocco."

Curry, who has staged "Rite of Spring" since 1992, said Tetley was one of the first choreographers to mix classical and contemporary styles. "His works are not the formal, rigid images in ballet. He used wonderful torso movements and arms. You can immediately recognize a Tetley work."

Tetley's "Rite of Spring" had its world premiere in Munich with the Bavarian State Opera Ballet on April 17, 1974, according to Tetley's biography by the American Ballet Theatre. The ballet was known then as "Le Sacre du Printemps."

ABT premiered the work in the United States on June 21, 1976, in the Metropolitan Opera House. It wasn't until May 5, 1992, when the title was changed to "Rite of Spring."

"It was shortly after I met Glen in 1978 that he wanted me to notate his ballets," said Curry. "I was working for the London Festival Ballet when I met him, and I started working for him as his assistant shortly after."

Tetley asked Curry to stage "Le Sacre du Printemps" for ABT in 1976. The male lead was danced by Mikhail Baryshnikov. "I was delighted to do that," said Curry, who has worked with everyone from Ronald Hynd to Rudolf Nureyev to Gelsey Kirkland. "Baryshnikov was a good dancer. He was pleasant to work with."

Ballet West artistic director Jonas Kåge has close ties with "Rite of Spring." Although he didn't perform the role of the Chosen One, he danced the Father figure when the Stuttgart Ballet did Tetley's version 30 years ago. "Glen has always been a part of my career development," Kåge said as he was preparing to observe rehearsals. "And this work is one of those works that really show off a company.

"It is exhausting. Toward the end of the piece, the dancers are just literally throwing themselves into the steps. The dancers have to get down the basic survival instinct in this piece. And I think that brings out the aesthetic of the work."