Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes

(2015)

Choreography

Justin Peck

Music

Aaron Copland

22 minutes and 30 seconds

Considered by many to be one of Justin Peck’s most thrilling works, Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes reimagines Aaron Copland’s iconic Americana score through the lens of contemporary ballet. Stripping away the original rodeo narrative, Peck focuses on pure movement creating a high-energy, ensemble-driven work that highlights musicality, athleticism, and bold stagecraft.

Scored for a powerful cast dominated by men, the ballet unfolds in four dynamic sections, ranging from propulsive group passages to a striking, introspective quintet. With its inventiveness, rhythmic vitality, and emotional range, Rodeo offers a fresh and exhilarating vision of the American spirit.

Justin Peck is a three-time Tony Award-winning choreographer, filmmaker, and dancer, and currently serves as Resident Choreographer of New York City Ballet—the second person in the company’s 75-year history to hold this title. He danced with New York City Ballet from 2006 to 2019, rising to soloist in 2013, performing a wide-ranging repertoire from Balanchine and Robbins to Tharp and Wheeldon.

Since turning his focus to choreography, Peck has created over 50 works presented worldwide, including at Lincoln Center, the Palais Garnier, Sydney Opera House, and Broadway. His pieces have been performed by leading companies such as Miami City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Australian Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Boston Ballet, Juilliard, and many more.

Peck has choreographed for Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story and the film Maestro with Bradley Cooper, and conceived, directed, and choreographed the Tony-winning Broadway productions of Carousel, Illinoise, and Buena Vista Social Club. His work has earned numerous honors, including three Tony Awards for Best Choreography, the Bessie Award for Outstanding Production, the National Arts Award, the Drama Desk Award, the Lucille Lortel Award, and the Chita Rivera Award.

Celebrated for his collaborations across dance, film, and theater, Peck has worked with artists including Sufjan Stevens, Shepard Fairey, Sofia Coppola, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Renee Fleming. Known for his energy, precision, and innovative storytelling, he continues to redefine what ballet can be.

Harriet Jung and Reid Bartelme are visionary costume designers whose work seamlessly blends fashion and movement. After meeting at the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2009, they began their collaborative design journey in 2011, focusing on costuming for dance. Their striking designs have been featured in works by some of today’s most celebrated choreographers, including Christopher Wheeldon, Justin Peck, Matthew Neenan, Pam Tanowitz, and Kyle Abraham.

Beyond the stage, Jung and Bartelme have created costume-centric performances for institutions such as the Museum of Arts and Design and the Guggenheim Museum. Their design expertise extends to Broadway, where they made their debut with Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ in 2023. With research fellowships at NYU’s Center for Ballet and the Arts and the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, their work continues to evolve, shaping the visual identity of dance productions worldwide.

Brandon Stirling Baker is a Tony Award-nominated lighting designer whose work spans Broadway, ballet, opera, and concert stages around the world. Known for his keen ability to shape atmosphere and movement through light, Baker has designed for leading institutions including New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and The Royal Ballet, among many others.

With over 30 world premieres in collaboration with choreographer Justin Peck, Baker is a defining force in contemporary stage lighting. His designs have also illuminated the works of William Forsythe, Pam Tanowitz, Jamar Roberts, and Christopher Wheeldon, enhancing each choreographer’s artistic vision with his signature interplay of shadow, texture, and color.