Classics by Balanchine/Peck/Tharp

Multi-part ballet evening by George Balanchine / Justin Peck / Twyla Tharp.

With »Classics«, the Semperoper Ballett premieres a programme that unites three dance creations that have become signature pieces of their respective creators:

The triple-bill opens with »Serenade« – the very first work that George Balanchine created in the US: by portraying ballerinas in floor-length light blue tulle dresses in a strictly geometrical choreography to Tchaikovsky’s »Serenade for Strings«, Mr Balanchine’s 1935 work diffuses the atmosphere of the »white acts« as shown in classical narrative ballets. In this way, it bridges to abstract neoclassical ballet and new forms of body expression. This is creation is followed by »Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes« by American choreographer Justin Peck, who brings this 2015 choreography to Semperoper. With this work, Peck takes up the famous Americana theme of US composer Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990) whose cowboy ballet »Rodeo« (1942) is one of his best-known creations. Peck took on this score and developed a humorous, lively dance piece for 16 dancers. US choreographer Twyla Tharp premieres with another creation by presenting her work »In The Upper Room« (1986), which nowadays is considered a favourite in the repertoire of many ballet companies. Accompanied by the commissioned composition by Philip Glass, the company once again demonstrates its enormous body control by performing not only ballet but also a variety of physical techniques such as boxing, yoga and tap dancing, and thus rounds off the ballet evening in this varied way.

Program and cast