Ballet
Agon
Agon is Balanchine and Stravinsky at their most daring, and it's wild that it came out in 1957. The title is Greek for contest, and the whole thing plays like a precise, athletic competition for twelve dancers set to a knotty, cutting-edge score. If you want to see where modern ballet gets its edge, this is ground zero.
Fast facts
- Composer
- Igor Stravinsky
- Choreographer
- George Balanchine
- Premiere
- 1957, New York
- Structure
- One act
- Running time
- About 25 minutes
The story
A plotless work for twelve dancers structured loosely around old French court dances, but filtered through Stravinsky's spare, serial score. The piece moves through solos, duets, and ensemble sections that feel like sporting events, full of tension, balance, and sudden shifts. Its heart is a famous central pas de deux of extraordinary intimacy and invention, after which the dancers reassemble for a cool, exacting close.
What Agon is famous for
- Its groundbreaking central pas de deux
- Stravinsky's twelve-tone-influenced score
- Precision and athleticism over story
- A high point of the Balanchine-Stravinsky partnership
Companies that perform Agon
Agon is in the repertoire of companies including New York City Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the title Agon mean?
It's the ancient Greek word for a contest or struggle. The ballet treats dance almost like an athletic competition, which is why you see so much tension and physical challenge in it.
Is Agon hard to follow for a newcomer?
There's no plot to follow, so you can just watch the shapes, the partnering, and the way the dancers respond to the music. Many people find the central duet mesmerizing even on a first viewing.
How many dancers are in it?
Twelve, arranged in shifting combinations of solos, duets, trios, and quartets across the piece.
Who composed Agon?
Agon was composed by Igor Stravinsky.
How long is Agon?
Agon runs about 25 minutes.