Ballet
Stars and Stripes
Balanchine loved America and this ballet is him going all in on that, set to a batch of Sousa marches. It is organized into sections he called campaigns, full of high kicks, drum majorettes, and pure patriotic fizz. It is unapologetically crowd-pleasing and it ends with a giant American flag, so you know exactly what you are getting.
Fast facts
- Composer
- John Philip Sousa, arranged by Hershy Kay
- Choreographer
- George Balanchine
- Premiere
- 1958, New York City Ballet, New York
- Structure
- One act (five campaigns)
- Running time
- approx 30 minutes
The story
A plotless, exuberant ballet set to marches by John Philip Sousa, orchestrated by Hershy Kay. It is laid out in five sections, called campaigns, featuring regiments of dancers who evoke marching bands, majorettes, and drum corps. The tone is festive and celebratory throughout, climaxing with a grand finale and a towering American flag backdrop.
What Stars and Stripes is famous for
- Its Sousa march score
- The five campaign structure
- A rousing patriotic finale with a giant flag
- Being one of Balanchine's great crowd-pleasers
Companies that perform Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes is in the repertoire of companies including New York City Ballet.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What music is Stars and Stripes set to?
Marches by John Philip Sousa, orchestrated for the ballet by Hershy Kay.
How is it organized?
Into five sections that Balanchine called campaigns, each led by different groups of dancers, building to a patriotic finale.
Does it have a plot?
No, it is plotless. It is a festive, parade-like celebration rather than a story ballet.
Who composed Stars and Stripes?
Stars and Stripes was composed by John Philip Sousa, arranged by Hershy Kay.
How long is Stars and Stripes?
Stars and Stripes runs approx 30 minutes.