Stars and Stripes
Choreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust
Music by John Philip Sousa, arranged by Hershy Kay
Staged by Victoria Simon
Costume Design by Karinska
Scenery by David Hays
Lighting Design by Trad A Burns
Conducted by Ramona Pansegrau
Music performed by Kansas City Symphony
Rehearsal Assistants Kristi Capps, Parrish Maynard, Christopher Ruud
Set to Sousa’s buoyant marches and dressed in Karinska‘s delightful all-American costumes, Stars and Stripes contains as much pure dancing as many full-length classical ballets.
The work is divided into five “campaigns,” each of which uses different themes from John Philip Sousa’s marches. When asked why he chose to choreograph a ballet to Sousa, Balanchine replied, “Because I like his music.” Stars and Stripes has been performed for many memorable occasions, including Nelson Rockefeller’s inauguration as governor of New York, tributes for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, and the opening ceremonies for the New York State Theater (now the David H. Koch Theater) at Lincoln Center. The ballet is dedicated to the memory of Fiorello H. LaGuardia, mayor of New York City from 1934 to 1945 and founder of the City Center of Music and Drama.
Notes provided courtesy of and adapted from New York City Ballet Online Repertory index.
World Premiere: January 17, 1958. New York City Ballet, City Center of Music and Drama; New York, New York
Kansas City Ballet Premiere: March 20, 2026, Muriel Kauffman Theatre at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts