Be Our Valentine

Balanchine had an early opportunity to work with George Gershwin: In 1937 Gershwin asked Balanchine to come to Hollywood to work with him on Goldwyn’s Follies(released 1938), which included a Romeo and Juliet number with a mock duel between ballet-dancing Montagues and tap-dancing Capulets. Thirty-three years later, Balanchine choreographed Who Cares? to 16 songs Gershwin composed between 1924 and 1931. Balanchine used the songs not to evoke a particular era but as a basis for a dynamic that is uniquely American and, more specifically, evocative of New York City: Balanchine’s choreography brings out the exuberance of city life.

Choreography: George Balanchine

Music: Excerpts of George Gershwin arranged by Hershy Kay - Strike up the Band (1927), Sweet and Low Down (1925), Somebody Loves Me (1924), Bidin’ My Time (1930), ’S Wonderful (1927), That Certain Feeling (1925), Do Do Do (1926), Lady Be Good (1924), The Man I Love (1924), I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise (1922), Embraceable You (1930), Fascinatin’ Rhythm (1924), Who Cares? (1931), My One and Only (1927), Liza (1929), I Got Rhythm (1930)

Premiere: February 5, 1970, New York City Ballet, New York State Theater

Repertory notes provided courtesy of and adapted for New York City Ballet Online Repertory Index. The George Balanchine Trust, www.balanchine.com. New York City Ballet, www.nycballet.com.