This mixed bill presents four works that trace the evolution of ballet from the mid-20th century to the present. George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations (1947), set to Tchaikovsky, showcases 13 couples in a classical structure marked by speed and precision. That same year, Martha Graham created Errand into the Maze, a duet drawing on Greek mythology that reflects her distinct choreographic language. William Forsythe’s Herman Schmerman (Quintet) (1992), originally made for New York City Ballet, extends classical technique into contemporary territory with unpredictable movement patterns.

The program concludes with David Dawson’s Four Last Songs (2023), a work for 12 dancers choreographed to Richard Strauss’s song cycle. Music by Tchaikovsky, Menotti, and Strauss will be performed live by the English National Ballet Philharmonic, with soprano Madeleine Pierard as soloist for Strauss’s score.