New York City Ballet

Serenade (1934) was the first full-length ballet George Balanchine created in the United States and is one of the signature works of the New York City Ballet. Taking the Serenade for Strings op. 48 by Tchaikovsky as the point of departure, Balanchine conceived this piece as a ballet lesson where we observe everything that takes place in a class, from a simple tendu in the beginning, to a mishap or two. In Square Dance, George Balanchine joined the traditions of American folk dance with classical ballet. With the music of Vivaldi and Corelli, the original 1957 version had the musicians on stage and made use of a caller, the person who called out the steps. In the 1976 revival, however, the orchestra is in the pit, the caller was eliminated and a solo for the principal male dancer was added. The Times Are Racing (2017) is a ballet with sneakers and street clothes designed by Humberto Leon, co-founder of the fashion brand Opening Ceremony. Using an electronic score by Dan Deacon - the last four tracks of his 2012 album, America–, the piece takes its inspiration from a variety of styles, including references to the tap dancing of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

Founding choreographers:

George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins

Founders:

George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein

SERENADE

Music of Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Premiere at Adelphi Theater, New York City. 1 March, 1935  

• Choreographer: George Balanchine
• Lighting design: Mark Stanley
• Costume design: Karinska
• Orquesta Titular del Teatro Real

SQUARE DANCE

Music of Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) and Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)

Premiere at the City Center for Music and Dance. New York City.  21 November, 1957

• Choreographer: George Balanchine
• Lighting design: Ronald Bates
• Orquesta Titular del Teatro Real

THE TIMES ARE RACING

Music of  Dan Deacon (1981)

Premiere at the David H. Koch Theater.  26 January, 2017

• Choreographer: Justin Peck
• Costume design: Humberto León
• Lighting design: Brandon Stirling Baker
• Sound design: Abe Jacob

TICKETS ON SALE 

• Tickets on sale: 20 December
• Subscribers and Young people (ages 18-35): 15 December
• Friends of Teatro Real and Young Friends of Teatro Real: 14 December
• Collaborating and Benefactor Friend: 13 December
• Protector Friend: 12 December