Dances at a Gathering

Music

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)

Choreography

Jerome Robbins

Staging

Philip Neal & Jenifer Ringer

Costume Design

Joe Eula

Lighting Design

Jennifer Tipton, recreated by Randall G. Chiarelli

Duration

58 minutes

Premiere

May 22, 1969; New York City Ballet

PNB Premiere

May 28, 2009

The 2009 Pacific Northwest Ballet premiere of Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering was generously underwritten by Jeffrey & Susan Brotman.

Program Notes

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.

Recommended Reading:
Jerome Robbins: His Life, His Theater, His Dance , by Deborah Jowitt (Simon & Schuster, 2004)