Serenade (ballet)
"Serenade" is a ballet choreographed by George Balanchine, notable for being the first classical ballet created and performed in the United States. It was developed during Balanchine's evening sessions at the School of American Ballet, where he sought to bridge the gap between classroom training and stage performance. The ballet features music from Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky's 1880 composition "Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48" and is characterized by its abstract nature, devoid of a narrative story.
The choreography evolved through Balanchine's interactions with his students, incorporating spontaneous moments from their rehearsals, such as a student's fall. "Serenade" premiered on June 10, 1934, at the Felix Warburg Estate, before being staged at larger venues, including the Avery Memorial Theatre and the Adelphi Theatre in New York. The ballet not only marked a pivotal moment in Balanchine's career but also significantly influenced American ballet culture in the 1930s. Today, "Serenade" remains a vital part of the repertoire for the New York City Ballet and is performed by many major ballet companies worldwide.
On this Page
Serenade (ballet)
Identification Classical ballet
Composer Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
Choreographer George Balanchine
Date Premiered on June 10, 1934
Place Felix Warburg Estate, White Plains, New York
Serenade was the first ballet that George Balanchine choreographed in the United States.
Serenade was created by Balanchine in his evening sessions in stage technique, which he taught at the School of American Ballet. Although the school did not have an actual performing company, Balanchine wanted his students to be aware of the differences between class work and actual performance on stage. Balanchine believed it was particularly important not to use a ballet that the students had seen. The dancers were to perform a new ballet. He chose Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s 1880 composition Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48 as the music for his ballet. He envisioned the ballet as a pure interpretation of the music in dance without a narrative story.
The students attending the evening sessions varied from week to week. Balanchine choreographed dance sequences each evening using the number of students present. In the first three sessions, only female students were present. Eventually male students also attended the sessions, and he added partnered dances. He also incorporated chance happenings into his ballet. During one session, a female student fell and began to cry; from this incident he created a dance. Another evening, a female student was late, and this became the starting point for another dance.
Serenade was performed for the first time on June 10, 1934, at the Felix Warburg Estate by students of the school; the ballet had undergone considerable revision and elaboration. On December 6, 1934, it was performed by the school’s company at the Avery Memorial Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut. From March 1, through March 15, the company, by then called the American Ballet, performed it at the Adelphi Theatre in New York.
Impact
Serenade had a significant impact on American culture of the 1930’s. It was the first classical ballet choreographed and performed for the first time in the United States. It also marked the beginning of Balanchine’s career as a choreographer in the United States. Serenade not only has become a permanent part of the repertoire of the New York City Ballet but also is performed by major ballet companies throughout the world.
Bibliography
Gottlieb, Robert. George Balanchine: The Ballet Maker. New York: HarperCollins, 2004.
Walzak, Barbara, and Una Kai. Balanchine the Teacher: Fundamentals That Shaped the First Generation of New York City Ballet Dancers. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2008.