The Little Ballet
McKerrow, Baryshnikov, Carberry, Kudo and Raffa during dress rehearsal. Photo by Martha Swope.
Baryshnikov in The Little Ballet as performed in the television special Baryshnikov by Tharp.
Twyla Tharp Dance company members Shawn Stevens, Delphine Moussin and Allison Brown perform in 1991. Photo by Martha Swope.
Premiere
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Date
1 April 1983
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Company
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Venue
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Location
Minneapolis, MN
Production
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Choreographer
Twyla Tharp
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Composer
Alexander Glazounov
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Live Music by
American Ballet Theatre Orchestra
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Lighting Designer
Jennifer Tipton
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Costume Designer
Santo Loquasto
Dancers
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Number of Dancers
5
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Runtime
00:12:45
Description
The Little Ballet was Tharp’s second commission for American Ballet Theatre. Created for Mikhail Baryshnikov, then artistic director of the company, and four female dancers, this chamber ballet provided a platform for him to demonstrate his easy mastery of the classical technique. In addition to a solo, Baryshnikov and his partner alternate between passages of technical display while the ensemble waltzes in and out of the space.
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Commissioned by
Past Performances
American Ballet Theatre
Little Ballet (premiere) | American Ballet Theatre
Minneapolis, MN
April 1 1983 Premiere
American Ballet Theatre
Little Ballet (a.k.a. Once Upon A Time) | American Ballet Theater
New York, NY
May 30 1983 Repertory
American Ballet Theatre
Little Ballet – Sinatra Suite | American Ballet Theatre
Washington, D.C.
December 10 1983 Repertory
American Ballet Theatre
Little Ballet | American Ballet Theatre
Wang Center at Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY
January 30 1984 Repertory
American Ballet Theatre
Bach Partita – LittleBallet – Sinatra Suite – Push Comes To Shove | American Ballet Theater
Wang Center at Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY
February 2 1984 Dance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Little Ballet – Assorted Quartets (a.k.a.Four Down Under) – Bad Smells – Golden Section | Twyla Tharp Dance
Melbourne, Australia
February 6 1988 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Little Ballet – Assorted Quartets (a.k.a.Four Down Under) – Bad Smells – Golden Section | Twyla Tharp Dance
Sydney, Australia
February 20 1988 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Little Ballet – Assorted Quartets (a.k.a Four Down Under) – Bad Smells – Golden Section | Twyla Tharp Dance
Perth, Australia
March 3 1988 Dance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Little Ballet – Assorted Quartets (a.k.a.Four Down Under) – Bad Smells – Golden Section | Twyla Tharp Dance
The Opera Theatre
Adelaide, Australia
March 12 1988 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Little Ballet – Assorted Quartets (a.k.a.Four Down Under) – Bad Smells – Golden Section | Twyla Tharp Dance
Canberra, Australia
March 18 1988 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp Dance
Assorted Quartets (a.k.a Four Down Under) – Little Ballet – Bad Smells – Golden Section | Twyla Tharp Dance
Wellington, New Zealand
March 24 1988 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Deuce Coupe (IV) – LittleBallet – Men's Piece – The Golden Section | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Columbus, OH
October 5 1991 TTD Performance
Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Ocean's Motion – The Little Ballet – Grand Pas: Rhythm of the Saints – Nine Sinatra Songs | Twyla Tharp and Dancers
Tokyo, Japan
February 18 1992 Repertory
Company C Contemporary Ballet
Little Ballet | Company C Ballet
Rohnert Park, CA
April 18 2009 Repertory
Company C Contemporary Ballet
Little Ballet | Company C Ballet
San Francisco, CA
May 2 2009 Repertory
Company C Contemporary Ballet
Little Ballet | Company C Ballet
Walnut Creek, CA
May 18 2009 Repertory
- 1983
- 1984
- 1988
- 1991
- 1992
- 2009