Cincinnati Ballet Celebrates 'Serenade,' the Most Beloved Ballet of All Time

The company will perform the iconic Balanchine work as part of 'Director's Vision: Liberty in Motion' April 10-12.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:05am

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An abstract, minimalist illustration featuring sharp, geometric shapes in deep blue and white, evoking the graceful, swirling movements of ballet dancers.Cincinnati Ballet's upcoming performances of the iconic Balanchine ballet 'Serenade' celebrate the work's timeless elegance and enduring cultural significance.NYC Today

Cincinnati Ballet will perform George Balanchine's timeless ballet 'Serenade' as part of its upcoming 'Director's Vision: Liberty in Motion' program, celebrating the 250th anniversary of Balanchine's adopted country. The program also includes works by noted American choreographers Justin Peck and Claudia Schreier, but 'Serenade' is widely considered the most beloved ballet of all time.

Why it matters

Balanchine's 'Serenade' is a landmark work that has captivated audiences for decades with its elegant simplicity, youthful energy, and deeply personal connection to the choreographer's own journey to America. The ballet's enduring popularity and status as a rite of passage for professional dancers underscores its cultural significance.

The details

Balanchine created 'Serenade' in 1934, shortly after arriving in the U.S. and founding his School of American Ballet. He choreographed the work on his students, who were long on enthusiasm but short on technique. This spirit of youthful exuberance is reflected in the ballet's timeless appeal. Over the decades, Balanchine revised 'Serenade' many times, but the basic structure and choreographic wit have remained the same.

  • Balanchine created 'Serenade' in 1934, six months after opening his School of American Ballet.
  • Cincinnati Ballet first performed 'Serenade' in 1973 and has included it in its subscription series 16 times over the years.

The players

George Balanchine

The renowned choreographer who created 'Serenade' in 1934, shortly after emigrating to the United States from Russia. Balanchine went on to found the School of American Ballet and the New York City Ballet, becoming one of the most influential figures in 20th-century ballet.

Cervilio Miguel Amador

The artistic director of Cincinnati Ballet, who has programmed 'Serenade' as part of the company's 'Director's Vision: Liberty in Motion' celebration of American choreography.

Justin Peck

The resident choreographer of New York City Ballet, whose work 'The Times Are Racing' is also featured in Cincinnati Ballet's 'Director's Vision' program.

Claudia Schreier

The choreographer-in-residence at Atlanta Ballet, whose work 'First Impulse' is also part of Cincinnati Ballet's 'Director's Vision' program.

Kelly Yankle

A former Cincinnati Ballet dancer who describes performing 'Serenade' as a 'rite of passage' for ballet dancers.

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What they’re saying

“Performing 'Serenade' is a rite of passage for ballet dancers. It was always thrilling to perform it. It's exhilarating. I don't think there is any person who has danced it or seen it who doesn't feel this this way.”

— Kelly Yankle, Former Cincinnati Ballet dancer

“It's a magical ballet. Everything about 'Serenade' works. Everything about it feels right. Part of it is the music – there is really something pure about it. I don't think you ever get tired of it.”

— Tricia Sundbeck, Former Cincinnati Ballet dancer, now director of the prep ballet program at the College-Conservatory of Music

“It's a ballet that just brings out the joy in your body. I think the audience must sense that, too. The combination of music, choreography and camaraderie in 'Serenade' is very rare.”

— Patricia Kelly Pao, Former Cincinnati Ballet dancer

“The first notes of it are very empowering. You're all by yourself, but you're surrounded by other women. It's like a collective solo. You feel very beautiful. It's like a feminist movement; there's oneness.”

— Jennifer Foster-Drank, Former Cincinnati Ballet dancer, now artistic director of The Dancer Project Conservatory

“It's definitely a bucket list ballet. It's not my top one, but I think it is something that every dancer wants to do. It's very freeing, very inspiring.”

— Salome Tregre, Cincinnati Ballet dancer

What’s next

Cincinnati Ballet's 'Director's Vision: Liberty in Motion' program, featuring 'Serenade,' will be performed April 10-12 at the Procter & Gamble Hall in the Aronoff Center.

The takeaway

Balanchine's 'Serenade' has endured as one of the most beloved and influential ballets of the 20th century, captivating audiences and dancers alike with its timeless elegance, youthful energy, and deeply personal connection to the choreographer's own journey to America. The Cincinnati Ballet's upcoming performances of this iconic work underscore the ballet's enduring cultural significance.