Spring Performance: Ballet Excerpts

Variations are an important learning tool for young dancers. And certain variations – like opera arias – have long outlived the full-length productions they originally belonged to. Favorite Westside Ballet excerpts include choreography by the great Marius Petipa (Paquita, Raymonda,The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote) and selections from the Danish master August Bournonville (Napoli). The photo below is from La Vivandiere (choreography after Arthur Saint-Leon).

From Coppelia

Music: Leo Delibes
Choreography: After Arthur Saint-Leon
Friends 2009, 2000, 1994
Mazurka 1994
Prayer 2013, 2005
Waltz of the Hours 2016, 2011, 2009, 1999, 1994

From Don Quixote

Music: Leon Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Pas de Deux 2013 (Lucia Connolly), 2006 (Sarah Poss) and 1996
The Dream 2001, staged by Sophie Monat

From Giselle

Music: Adolphe Adam
Choreography: After Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot
Peasant Dance 2013, 2016, 2003, 2000, 1996
Wilis 2003

From Harlequinade

Commedia dell’arte characters and frothy music make Harlequinade a delight. It’s said that Balanchine’s childhood memories of dancing in the Petipa version inspired him to choreograph to the same music.
Music: Riccardo Drigo (Harlequin’s Millions)
Choreography: George Balanchine
Year Performed: 2016 (Giorgia Martelloni-Zabriskie, Molly Novak), 2009, 2004

Jardin Animé

Often included as an interpolation in Le Corsaire, Le Jardin Animé could be classified as a short ballet rather than an excerpt.
Music: Leo Delibes
Choreography: After Marius Petipa
Year Performed: 2017, 2009, 2003, 2001, 1998, 1995

From Napoli

Music: Neils Gade, Edvard Helsted, Holger Paulli, Hans Christian Lumbye
Choreography: August Bournonville
Act 3 Variations 2001
Tarantella 2004 (re-staged by Sophie Monat)

Divertissements 2016 (staged by Nilas Martins)

Paquita Variations

The variations – originally an interpolation in a longer ballet – have outlasted the ballet itself. (Minkus wrote only the music for the variations; Deldevez scored the full-length ballet.)
Music: Leon Minkus
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Year Performed: 2012, 2008, 2005, 2000, 1998, 1995, 1994

Raymonda Variations

Music: Alexander Glazunov
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Year Performed: 1999, 1996, 1994

From Sleeping Beauty

Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Rosemary Valaire after Marius Petipa
Garland Dance 2011, 2005, 2001, 1998
Pas de Trois 1994
Nymphs 2012, 2010, 2006, 2001, arranged by Yvonne Mounsey

Act 3 2015, staged by Martine Harley

From Stars & Stripes

Music: John Philip Sousa, arranged by Hershy Kay
Choreography: George Balanchine
Year Performed: 2004, Gala 2002

From Swan Lake

Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Lev Ivanov, Marius Petipa
Peasant Dance 1995, 1994
White Swans 2011, 1995
Black Swan Pas de Deux 2016 (solo), 1995, 1994 (Melissa Barak)

Act 2 2011, staged by Martine Harley

From Les Sylphides

Music: Frederic Chopin
Choreography: Micheal Fokine
Year Performed: 2010, 2005

From La Vivandiere

Music: Cesar Pugni
Choreography: After Arthur Saint-Leon
Year Performed: 2000, 1996
Photo above shows Emily Hite dancing one of the variations

From Who Cares?

Music: George Gershwin, arranged by Hershy Kay
Choreography: George Balanchine
Year Performed: 2015, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2003, 1999, 1996