New York City Ballet

Stars and Stripes

Choreography by: George Balanchine

Music by: John Philip Sousa, orchestrated by Hershy Kay

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Credits

Music: Corcoran Cadets, Thunder and Gladiator, Rifle Regiment, Liberty Bell, El Capitan, The Stars and Stripes Forever
Premiere: January 17, 1958, New York City Ballet, City Center of Music and Drama
Original Cast: Allegra Kent, Diana Adams, Melissa Hayden, Robert Barnett, Jacques d'Amboise
Length: 28 Min.
Costumes by: Karinska
Set by: David Hays
Lighting by: Nananne Porcher (1958); David Hays (1964); Mark Stanley (current production)

Set to Sousa's buoyant marches and dressed in Karinska's delightful all-American costumes, Stars and Stripes contains as much pure dancing as many full-length classical ballets.

For all its exuberant patriotic touches, Stars and Stripes contains as much pure dancing as many full-length classical ballets. The work is divided into five “campaigns,” each of which uses different themes from John Philip Sousa’s marches. When asked why he chose to choreograph a ballet to Sousa, Balanchine replied, “Because I like his music.” Stars and Stripes has been performed for many memorable occasions, including Nelson Rockefeller’s inauguration as governor of New York, tributes for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, and the opening ceremonies for the New York State Theater (now the David H. Koch Theater) at Lincoln Center. The ballet is dedicated to the memory of Fiorello H. LaGuardia, mayor of New York City from 1934 to 1945 and founder of the City Center of Music and Drama.

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