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 a 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 principle 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.

Serenade is a romantic work of immense sweep, set to a transcendent Tschaikovsky score.

Serenade is a milestone in the history of dance. It is the first original ballet George Balanchine created in America and is one of the signature works of New York City Ballet’s repertory. Balanchine began the ballet as a lesson in stage technique and worked unexpected rehearsal events into the choreography. A student’s fall or late arrival to rehearsal became part of the ballet.

After its initial presentation, Serenade was reworked several times. In its present form there are four movements: “Sonatina”, “Waltz”, “Russian Dance”, and “Elegy.” The last two movements reverse the order of Tschaikovsky’s score, ending the ballet on a note of sadness.

“In everything that I did to Tschaikovsky’s music, I sensed his help. It wasn’t real conversation. But when I was working and saw that something was coming of it, I felt that it was Tschaikovsky who had helped me.”

George Balanchine

Known for his love of all things American, Balanchine expertly reconceives square dancing to fit his neoclassical minimalism, retaining its fascinating patterns and effervescent spirit.

In Square Dance, George Balanchine joined the traditions of American folk dance with classical ballet. He felt the two types of dance, though widely different in style, had common roots and a similar regard for order. He wrote, "The American style of classical dancing, its supple sharpness and richness of metrical invention, its superb preparation for risks, and its high spirits, were some of the things I was trying to show in this ballet." In the original 1957 version, the musicians were placed onstage, and a square dance caller was brought in to call out the steps. Square Dance was revived in 1976 without the caller, with the orchestra in the pit, and with an added solo for the principal male dancer.

One of the most buzzed about premieres of 2017, The Times Are Racing is a sneaker ballet that sees its dancers in streetwear designed by Opening Ceremony, drawing inspiration from a variety of dance styles while matching Dan Deacon’s electronic score with youthful impulse and vigor.

Justin Peck’s The Times Are Racing is set to the last four tracks of Dan Deacon’s expansive 2012 album, America. The ballet for 20 dancers is Peck’s second collaboration with fashion designer Humberto Leon of Opening Ceremony, following New Blood, which premiered at NYCB’s 2015 Fall Gala. The lighting is by Peck’s frequent collaborator Brandon Stirling Baker.