Ballet
Western Symphony
Balanchine takes classical ballet and drops it into a rowdy Old West saloon, and it is a blast. Think cowboys, dance-hall girls, and classical technique set to familiar American folk tunes. It is one of his sunniest, most purely entertaining Americana pieces.
Fast facts
- Composer
- Hershy Kay (arrangements of American folk tunes)
- Choreographer
- George Balanchine (1954)
- Premiere
- 1954, New York
- Structure
- One act (four movements)
- Running time
- About 25 minutes
The story
This is a plotless ballet structured as a symphony in four movements, each a self-contained romp with a Western flavor. Dancers in cowboy and saloon-girl costumes flirt, show off, and tear through bravura steps against a painted frontier-town backdrop. There is no story, just the fun collision of strict classical form with the swagger and humor of the American West.
What Western Symphony is famous for
- Balanchine's cowboy Americana
- Familiar folk tunes arranged by Hershy Kay
- Classical ballet in a Wild West saloon
- A high-energy, bravura finale
Companies that perform Western Symphony
Western Symphony is in the repertoire of companies including New York City Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it tell a story?
No, it is plotless. It is organized like a four-movement symphony and leans on atmosphere and dazzling dancing rather than a narrative.
What is the music?
Hershy Kay arranged well-known American folk and frontier tunes into a symphonic score for the ballet.
Why cowboys?
Balanchine loved American culture and had fun setting rigorous classical choreography against the playful imagery of the Old West.
Who composed Western Symphony?
Western Symphony was composed by Hershy Kay (arrangements of American folk tunes).
How long is Western Symphony?
Western Symphony runs about 25 minutes.