Push Comes To Shove

Baryshnikov performs in the opening section. Photo by Martha Swope.

Mikhail Baryshnikov in performance in 1976.

Mikhail Baryshnikov and ABT dancers in rehearsal.

Baryshnikov and Tcherkassy with the corps de ballet. Photo by Martha Swope.

Principal dancers with the corps de ballet in performance. Photo by Martha Swope.

Premiere

Date

9 January 1976

Company

American Ballet Theatre

Venue

Uris Theater

Location

New York, NY

Production

Choreographer

Twyla Tharp

Composer

Joseph Lamb (Bohemia Rag, 1919),
Franz Joseph Haydn (Symphony No. 82 in C Major, 1786)

Lighting Designer

Jennifer Tipton

Costume Designer

Santo Loquasto

Dancers

Principals
Mikhail Baryshnikov

Martine van Hamel, Marianna Tcherkassky

Soloists
Kristine Elliott

Clark Tippet, Christopher Aponte

Chorus
Amy Blaisdell, Susan Frazer, Melissa Hale, Susan Jones, Marie Johannson, Elaine Kudo, Linda Kuchera, Ruth Mayer, Christine O’Neal, Berthica Prieto, Leigh Provancha, Janet Shibata, Christine Spizzo, Denise Warner, Patricia Wesche, Sandall Whitaker

Ensemble
Elizabeth Ashton, Cynthia Harvey, Sara Maule, Janet Popeleski

Victor Barbee, Warren Conover, Kenneth Hughes, Richard Schafer

Number of Dancers

29

Dance Sections

Prelude (Lamb)
Baryshnikov, Tcherkassky, van Hamel

Movement I (Vivace Assai, Haydn)
Baryshnikov, van Hamel, Tcherkassky

Movement II (Allegretto, Haydn)
Tcherkassky, Jones, Johansson, Kudo, Kuchera, Provancha, Shibata, Warner, Whitaker, Elliott, Blaisdell, Frazer, Hale, Mayer, O’Neal, Prieto, Spizzo, Wesche

Movement III (Menuet e Trio, Haydn)
van Hamel, Tippet, Ashton, Harvey, Maule, Popeleski, Barbee, Conover, Hughes, Schafer

Movement IV (Vivace, Haydn)
Entire Ensemble with Aponte

Runtime

00:22:30

Description

American Ballet Theatre commissioned Push Comes To Shove for their newest premier danseur Mikhail Baryshnikov.

The central male character introduces an easy ragtime feeling in the prelude of the work. He then serves as a master of ceremonies, leading his company of dancers in Haydn’s Symphony No. 82.

Tharp had previously created works for her modern dance company that wedded classical and popular music styles, but Push Comes To Shove marks the first such work ever presented by a major ballet company.

From the original program: “Ballet Theatre Foundation gratefully acknowledges the gift from Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Rubin which has made this production possible.”