Danses Сoncertantes

Igor Stravinsky originally composed Danses concertantes for chamber orchestra without the intention of it being used for ballet. Despite its name suggesting choreography, Stravinsky himself declared, “Contrary to its choreographic title, Danses concertantes was not conceived with dance in mind.” Yet, only a week after its orchestral debut in 1942, he proposed that George Balanchine choreograph it. This proposal marked the beginning of the composition’s life on stage, now featuring dance interpretations by various choreographers.
Choreographer Alexander Sergeev comments on the essence of Danses concertantes, saying, “For me Danses concertantes is about competition – the word concerto derives from the Latin for ‘contest’. It embodies a competition among soloists, between the soloists and five couples, and dancers grappling with complex rhythms. Ultimately, it’s about competing with myself.” Sergeev intended to craft a spectacle driven solely by music, energy and choreography. However, during the staging rehearsals psychological elements and interpersonal dynamics began to emerge unexpectedly.