Ballet
Elite Syncopations
Imagine a ballet that feels like a ragtime dance competition and you have Elite Syncopations. MacMillan set it to toe-tapping Scott Joplin tunes with the band right there onstage in loud costumes. It is pure good-time fun, a total crowd-pleaser with a wink in every number.
Fast facts
- Composer
- Scott Joplin and other ragtime composers
- Choreographer
- Kenneth MacMillan (1974)
- Premiere
- 1974, London
- Structure
- One act
- Running time
- About 35 minutes
The story
This is a plotless suite of dances built around ragtime music, staged as a kind of social dance-hall showcase. Couples and soloists take turns strutting through a series of numbers, from romantic duets to broad comic turns like the hilarious mismatched tall-and-short pairing. The onstage band and the flamboyant costumes make it feel more like a party than a traditional ballet.
What Elite Syncopations is famous for
- Scott Joplin ragtime score played onstage
- Wild, colorful costumes by Ian Spurling
- The comic tall woman and short man duet
- MacMillan in rare lighthearted mode
Companies that perform Elite Syncopations
Elite Syncopations is in the repertoire of companies including The Royal Ballet.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it have a story?
Not really. It is a plotless string of ragtime dances presented like a jolly dance-hall revue, held together by mood and music rather than narrative.
Is the band actually onstage?
Yes, the ragtime band sits right on the stage as part of the setting, which adds to the party atmosphere.
What is the music?
Mostly Scott Joplin along with other ragtime composers, which gives it that bouncy, syncopated flavor the title points to.
Who composed Elite Syncopations?
Elite Syncopations was composed by Scott Joplin and other ragtime composers.
How long is Elite Syncopations?
Elite Syncopations runs about 35 minutes.