SHORTS

Agnes de Mille’sRodeoRodeois an iconic 1942 ballet by American choreographer Agnes de Mille, featuring music by Aaron Copland, known for pioneering American themes, folk dance, and tap in classical ballet to tell the story of a tomboy cowgirl finding love and identity on a Western ranch, becoming a landmark in American dance and paving the way for de Mille’s work inOklahoma!. Christopher Bruce’sHushSet to the soulful, rhythmic tracks of Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin’s iconic albumHush, the choreography weaves together classical ballet and contemporary movement with a lighthearted “folky feel”. Featuring six dancers, parents and their four children, the piece is inspired by early silent film, following family of street performing mimes. The ballet discusses the important themes of life in relationships, their quirks, humor, love, and texture of the family dynamic. George Balanchine’sSerenadeA milestone in dance history, George Balanchine’sSerenade(1934) was the first original ballet he choreographed in the United States. Set to Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky’s lushSerenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48, the work is a masterpiece of neoclassical style, characterized by its abstract beauty and “moonlit” atmosphere. The ballet is instantly recognizable for its floor-length pale blue tulle skirts and a simple blue backdrop, creating an ethereal, impressionistic aesthetic.