New York City Ballet, one of the world’s most important dance companies founded by the choreographer, George Balanchine, and Lincoln Kirstein is coming to the Teatro Real from 23 to 26 March. The company will appear on stage to perform three choreographies full of symbolism: Serenade and Square Dance, both of which are works by George Balanchine; and The Times Are Racing, by the choreographer, Justin Peck.
The dance company is coming to Spain and will perform a programme that includes the essence of its personality in which three productions marked by choreographies full of symbolism can be seen.
The first of them, Serenade (1934) is the first original ballet created by George Balanchine in the United States, undoubtedly one of the New York City Ballet’s most emblematic works. Taking the String Serenade Op. 48 by Tchaikovsky as the starting point, Balanchine designed this piece as a ballet lesson.
In Square Dance, George Balanchine combined the traditions of American folk dance with classical ballet. With music by Vivaldi and Corelli, the musicians were on the stage in the 1957 original version and a caller was used, a person who called out the dance steps but the 1976 review moved the orchestra to the orchestra pit, did away with the caller and added a solo for the lead dancer.
The Times Are Racing (2017) is presented on stage as a ballet with sports shoes and street clothes designed by Humberto Leon, co-founder of the Opening Ceremony fashion brand. Its electronic score is by Dan Deacon and the production is inspired by a variety of dance styles, including references to the tap dancing of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.
Artistic File:
- Founding Choreographers - George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins
- Founders - George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein
- Artistic Director - Jonathan Stafford
- Executive Director - Katherine Brown
- Associate Artistic Director - Wendy Whelan
SERENADE
- Music - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
- Premièred at the Adelphi Theater in New York on 1 March 1935
- Choreographer - George Balanchine
- Lighting - Mark Stanley
- Costume Designer - Karinska
- Teatro Real Resident Orchestra
SQUARE DANCE
- Music - Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) and Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713)
- Premièred at the City Center for Music and Dance on 21 November 1957
- Choreographer - George Balanchine
- Lighting - Ronald Bates
- Teatro Real Resident Orchestra
THE TIMES ARE RACING
- Music - Dan Deacon (1981)
- Premièred at the David H. Koch Theater on 26 January 2017
- Choreographer - Justin Peck
- Costume Designer - Humberto León
- Lighting - Brandon Stirling Baker
- Sound - Abe Jacob
