Music by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (Suite No. 3 for Orchestra, final movement)
Choreography by George Balanchine
Staged by Kirk Peterson
Costumes by Theoni V. Aldredge*
Lighting by David K. H. Elliott*
*This production premiered at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, 5/5/86
Performed by Cynthia Harvey and Kevin McKenzie

World Premiere: Scenery and costumes by Woodman Thompson, later Andre Levasseur
Lighting by Jean Rosenthal
City Center 55 Street Theater, New York, 11/26/47
Original Cast: Alicia Alonso, Igor Youskevitch, Melissa Hayden, Paula Lloyd, Cynthia Riseley, Anna Cheselka, Fernando Alonso, Fernand Nault, Zachary Solov, Eric Braun

Timing: 21:00

This plotless ballet with its glorious choreography and glittering costumes is a vision of the Imperial Ballet in its heyday at the Maryinksy Theatre. It has been said that Theme and Variations was the “niece” of The Sleeping Beauty – bringing 19th century ballet into the 20th.

Theme and Variations received its World Premiere at New York's City Center on November 26, 1947, danced by Alicia Alonso and Igor Youskevitch.
A second production of this ballet, with costumes by Desmond Heeley, was premiered at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, on April 17, 1978, with Gelsey Kirkland and Mikhail Baryshnikov in the leading roles. A third production, with costumes by Santo Loquasto, received its American Ballet Theatre company premiere in Washington, D. C. at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on January 22, 1983. This current production received its ABT Company Premiere in New York City at the Metropolitan Opera House on May 5, 1986, danced by Cynthia Harvey and Kevin McKenzie.
Theme and Variations was created for American Ballet Theatre.The musicfor Theme and Variations is Tchaikovsky's Tema con Variazioni from his Suite No. 3 for Orchestra.
American Ballet Theatre gratefully acknowledges Tiffany & Co. for its generous support toward the production of Theme and Variations. Performances of Theme and Variations, a Balanchine® Ballet is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.