Philip Neal & Jenifer Ringer
Joe Eula
Jennifer Tipton, recreated by Randall G. Chiarelli
58 minutes
May 22, 1969
New York City Ballet
May 28, 2009
Frederic Chopin
(Mazurka, Op. 63, no. 3, 1846; Waltz, Op. 69, no. 2, 1829; Mazurka, Op. 33, no. 3, 1838; Mazurka, Op. 6, no. 4, 1830-1831; Mazurka, Op. 7, no. 5, 1830-1832; Mazurka, Op. 7, no. 4, 1830-1832; Mazurka, Op 24, no. 2, 1836; Mazurka, Op. 6, no. 2, 1830-1831; Waltz, Op. 42, 1839?-1840; Waltz, Op. 34, no. 2, 1831; Mazurka, Op. 56, no. 2, 1843; Etude, Op. 25, no. 4, 1835-1837?; Waltz, Op. 34, no. 1, 1835-1838; Waltz, Op. 70, no. 2, 1841; Etude, Op 25, no. 5, 1835-1837?; Etude, Op. 10, no. 2, 1829-1832; Scherzo, Op. 20, 1831/1834; Nocturne, Op. 15, no. 1, 1830-1833)
The 2009 Pacific Northwest Ballet premiere of Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering was generously underwritten by Jeffrey & Susan Brotman.
Dances at a Gathering was the first ballet Jerome Robbins made for New York City Ballet upon his return to the company in 1969, following a 12-year absence during which he choreographed some of his best-known Broadway musicals. An hour-long suite for ten dancers, set to solo piano works by Frederic Chopin, Dances at a Gathering began as a pas de deux. Robbins selected more music and the ballet grew. He invited Balanchine to see a rehearsal, asking him if the ballet wasn’t a bit long. Balanchine watched the rehearsal, then said, “More. Make more!”
Speaking before the premiere, Robbins explained, “I’m doing a fairly classical ballet to very old fashioned and romantic music, but there is a point to it. In a way it is a revolt from the faddism today. I find myself feeling just what is the matter with connecting, what’s the matter with love, what’s the matter with celebrating positive things?”
Jerome Robbins dedicated Dances at a Gathering to the memory of lighting designer Jean Rosenthal.