For our Spring Day Retreat, we will be George Balanchine’s Serenade, the first ballet he created in America, set to the soaring Serenade for Strings in C, Op. 48 by Tchaikovsky. It was first danced in 1935 with students of the School of American Ballet and the work has become one of the most celebrated ballets in the classical repertoire.

The ballet begins with seventeen women standing in stillness beneath a wash of blue light, arms raised toward the sky. From this striking opening image, Balanchine unfolds a series of sweeping patterns, fluid formations, and lyrical movements that mirror the music’s emotional shifts. The choreography blends classical ballet technique with a sense of spontaneity and musicality that became a hallmark of Balanchine’s style. Today, Serenade remains a cornerstone of neoclassical ballet, admired for its luminous blue costumes, sculptural groupings of dancers, and its profound dialogue between movement and music. The ballet stands as a testament to Balanchine’s vision of “seeing the music and hearing the dance.”

Take a look at the full ballet here.

This Day Retreat is tailored for adult ballet dancers at an Improver - Intermediate level and above. The repertoire will be modified to suit the level stipulated.

Take a look at our Level Guide for more info.

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