Work: Western Symphony

An evening of George Balanchine’s joyous, kitschy send-ups, with clever parodies of Petipa ballets.

Several important firsts at New York City Ballet: two female choreographers; the first black female choreographer; the first collaboration between a female choreographer and female composer. But the longstanding practice of pairing choreographers with fashion designers continues to prove problematic.  

Modern dance choreographer Pam Tanowitz' first commission for New York City Ballet proved unruly yet fascinating, sandwiched between George Balanchine's enduring Valse-Fantaisie and Western Symphony.