Agon Picks 2024Choreographed in 1957, Agon was a collaboration between composer Igor Stravinsky and George Balanchine. Together they devised a sequence of musical numbers and dances that updated forms from the 17th century, such as the “sarabande” (a stately court dance), the “gaillard,” and the “branle.” The title is the Greek word for “contest,” and through this and the work’s linear, geometrical look, Balanchine’s 1928 masterpiece, Apollo, is invoked. Combining two frames of historical reference—ancient Greece and baroque France—with a modern sensibility, Agon is perhaps Balanchine’s most distilled synthesis of classical and modern art, and one of the most influential works of art of the 20th century. Agon is packed with verbal and intellectual puns (though one need not know that to enjoy the ballet).
For example, the work has 12 dancers who interact in both symmetrical and asymmetrical arrangements of the number 12, and the music, which is composed on the 12-tone scale, develops its own 12-sided patterns. The work, labeled “world-conquering” by dance critic Arlene Croce, is completely engrossing. The heart of the work is an extended pas de deux for the leading couple which departs from classical pas de deux form, and from Balanchine’s usual observance of that form. The duet is built on the sustained, prolonged intertwining of the two dancers rather than being structured as a supported adagio followed by separate variations and a coda. It offers scarcely a break as it builds in tension, offering images of a bond that is tested but not broken. Perhaps more than any other part of Agon, the dramatic pas de deux has influenced other artists’ ballets, and the dynamics and form of choreographed relationships. Adapted from a note by Anita Finkel
Miami City Ballet premiere on January 26, 1995 at Dade County Auditorium; Miami, FL.
“The performance of Agon, 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.”
Ballet Credits
MIAMI CITY BALLET KEY WORDS MASTER 2026
Miami City Ballet Photographer Daniel Azoulay, Daniel Azoulay Studio, Executive Leadership, Gonzalo Garcia, Gonzalo Garcia Artistic Director, Scoot Altman, Scoot Altman Executive Director, Meet Our Dancers, Dawn Atkins, Dawn Atkins Principal Dancer, Cameron Catazaro, Cameron Catazaro Principal Dancer, Hannah Fischer, Hannah Fischer Principal Dancer, Samantha Hope Galler, Samantha Hope Galler Principal Dancer, Macarena Giménez, Macarena Giménez Principal Dancer, Ashley Knox, Ashley Knox Principal Dancer, Steven Loch, Steven Loch Principal Dancer, Taylor Naturkas, Taylor Naturkas Principal Dancer, Stanislav Olshanskyi, Stanislav Olshanskyi Principal Dancer, Alexander Peters, Alexander Peters Principal Dancer, Chase Swatosh, Chase Swatosh Principal Dancer, Shimon Ito, Shimon Ito Principal Soloist Dancer, Damian Zamorano, Damian Zamorano Principal Soloist Dancer, Adrienne Carter, Adrienne Carter Soloist Dancer, Isabella DeVivo, Isabella DeVivo Soloist Dancer, Satoki Habuchi, Satoki Habuchi Soloist Dancer, Anabel Katsnelson, Anabel Katsnelson Soloist Dancer, Nicole Stalker, Nicole Stalker Soloist Dancer, Peyton Andersen, Peyton Andersen Corps De Ballet, Shadian Rodolfo Aquia, Shadian Rodolfo Aquia Corps De Ballet, Scarlett Barone, Scarlett Barone Corps De Ballet, Katya Chernyshev, Katya Chernyshev Corps De Ballet, Rachel Collett, Rachel Collett Corps De Ballet, Lazaro Corrales, Lazaro Corrales Corps De Ballet, Antonia Deprey, Antonia Deprey Corps De Ballet, Sujanya Dhillon, Sujanya Dhillon Corps De Ballet, Guillermo Dominquez, Guillermo Dominquez Corps De Ballet, Lorenzo Dunton, Lorenzo Dunton Corps De Ballet, Mary Kate Edwards, Mary Kate Edwards Corps De Ballet, Maddie Goodman, Maddie Goodman Corps De Ballet, Ilona Halloran Rojas, Ilona Halloran Rojas Corps De Ballet, Chloe Humphrey, Chloe Humphrey Corps De Ballet, Maximiliano Iglesias, Maximiliano Iglesias Corps De Ballet, Alexander Kaden, Alexander Kaden Corps De Ballet, Isabelle Lapierre, Isabelle Lapierre Corps De Ballet, Andrew Larose, Andrew Larose Corps De Ballet, Suzette Logue, Suzette Logue Corps De Ballet, Jordan Martinez, Jordan Martinez Corps De Ballet, Yuliia Moskalenko, Yuliia Moskalenko Corps De Ballet, Lucy Nevin, Lucy Nevin Corps De Ballet, SarahAnne Perel, SarahAnne Perel Corps De Ballet, Jasmine Perry, Jasmine Perry Corps De Ballet, Kaelah Poulos-Hopkins, Kaelah Poulos-Hopkins Corps De Ballet, Ethan Rodrigues, Ethan Rodrigues Corps De Ballet, Emryck Sanchez-Raffy, Emryck Sanchez-Raffy Corps De Ballet, Giselle Tirét, Giselle Tirét Corps De Ballet, Company Apprentices, Gabriel Ahrens, Gabriel Ahrens Apprentice, Brianna Dougherty, Brianna Dougherty Apprentice, Caelan Gagnon, Caelan Gagnon Apprentice, Sofia Osorio, Sofia Osorio Apprentice, Yeva-Mariia Skorenka, Yeva-Mariia Skorenka Apprentice, Artistic and Production, Roma Sosenko, Roma Sosenko Principal Rehearsal Director, Joan Latham, Joan Latham Rehearsal Director, Arnold Quintane, Arnold Quintane Rehearsal Director, Tricia Albertson, Tricia Albertson Rehearsal Director, Kelly Brown, Kelly Brown Director Of Production, Ricardo Asturias, Ricardo Asturias Wardrobe Master, MCB Orchestra, Gary Sheldon, Gary Sheldon Music Director & Principal Conductor, Francisco Rennó, Francisco Rennó Company Artist, Violins, Mei Mei Luo, Mei Mei Luo Concertmaster, Geremy Miller, Geremy Miller Associate Concertmaster, Erika Venable, Erika Venable Assistant Concertmaster, Dina Kostic, Dina Kostic Principal Second Violin, Samvel Arakelyan, Siobhan Cronin, Sheena Gutierrez, Eduardo Martinez, Akiko Rivera, Anthony Seepersad, Victoria Stepanenko, Viola, Michael O’Gieblyn, Alexandra D’Amico, Valerie Judd, Angela Kratchmer, Cello, Ashley Garritson, Philip Lakofsky, Elizabeth Aron, Shea Kole, Christopher Glansdorp, Aaron Merritt, Bass, Janet Clippard, Susan Dirgins-Friend, Douglas Ferreira, Amy Nickler, Flute/Piccolo, Karen Fuller, Betania Canas, Elizabeth Lu, Emilio Rutlant, Oboe, Erin Gittelsohn, Kendra Hawley, Alexis Porcaro, English Horn, Erin Gittelsohn, Kendra Hawley, Alexis Porcaro, Clarinet, Richard Hancock, Nataniel Farrar, Amalie Wyrick-Flax, Bass Clarinet, Amalie Wyrick-Flax, Bassoon, Christina Bonatakis, Carlos Garcia, French Horn, Christopher Komer, Stan Spinola, Amber Dean, Sharon Selinger, Ania Kucia, Trumpet, Kevin Lyons, David Hunsicker, Ricardo Chinchilla, Michael Hankins, Matthew Shefcik, Trombone, Gilberto Cruz, Karla Rojas, Bass Trombone, Dan Satterwhite, Tuba, Calvin Jenkins, Timpani, Andrew Proctor, Percussion, Mikhail Mikhelson, Doug Friend, Michael Dehan, Harp, Kristina Finch, Piano/Celeste, Ciro Fodere, Anthony Seepersad, From Our Apollo Members, Murray and Sylvana Klein, Murray and Sylvana Klein Palm Beach Gardens, Susan Mark, Susan Mark West Palm Beach, Nora Weinreich, Nora Weinreich Miami Beach, Marketing And Communications, Tom Michel, Tom Michel Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Mary Landreth, Mary Landreth Senior Director of Marketing and Business Development, Ali Castro, Ali Castro Director of Marketing, Katharine Baines, Katharine Baines CRM Operations Manager, Isabella Grocelli de Oliveira, Isabella Grocelli de Oliveira Content and Media Manager, Kaitlin Duffy, Kaitlin Duffy Creative Services Manager, Mina Rhee, Mina Rhee Senior Production Designer, Production Technical, Kelly Brown, Kelly Brown Director of Production, Bailey Kirk, Bailey Kirk Assistant Stage Manager, Brian Harris, Brian Harris Head Carpenter, Nicanor Smith, Nicanor Smith Properties Master, Shane Cassidy, Shane Cassidy Head Electrician, Elvin Thomas, Elvin Thomas Assistant Electrician, Sean M. Deceunick, Sean M. Deceunick Sound Engineer, James Sampedro, James Sampedro Assistant Carpenter/Flymar, Gary Darling, Gary Darling Properties Assistant, Wilmer Arellano, Wilmer Arellano Projection Operator, Wardrobe, Ricardo Asturias, Ricardo Asturias Wardrobe Master, Eleanor Wolfe, Eleanor Wolfe Wardrobe Consultant, Natalie Axley, Natalie Axley Wardrobe Mistress, Ibis Hernandez, Ibis Hernandez School Wardrobe Mistress, Julia Villalobos, Julia Villalobos Sticher, Alberto Fages, Alberto Fages Sticher, Helen Cave, Helen Cave Shoe Inventory Assistant, Carol Raskin, Carol Raskin Hair and Makeup Artist,
For example, the work has 12 dancers who interact in both symmetrical and asymmetrical arrangements of the number 12, and the music, which is composed on the 12-tone scale, develops its own 12-sided patterns. The work, labeled “world-conquering” by dance critic Arlene Croce, is completely engrossing. The heart of the work is an extended pas de deux for the leading couple which departs from classical pas de deux form, and from Balanchine’s usual observance of that form. The duet is built on the sustained, prolonged intertwining of the two dancers rather than being structured as a supported adagio followed by separate variations and a coda. It offers scarcely a break as it builds in tension, offering images of a bond that is tested but not broken. Perhaps more than any other part of Agon, the dramatic pas de deux has influenced other artists’ ballets, and the dynamics and form of choreographed relationships. Adapted from a note by Anita Finkel
Miami City Ballet premiere on January 26, 1995 at Dade County Auditorium; Miami, FL.
“The performance of Agon, 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.”
Ballet Credits
MIAMI CITY BALLET KEY WORDS MASTER 2026
Miami City Ballet Photographer Daniel Azoulay, Daniel Azoulay Studio, Executive Leadership, Gonzalo Garcia, Gonzalo Garcia Artistic Director, Scoot Altman, Scoot Altman Executive Director, Meet Our Dancers, Dawn Atkins, Dawn Atkins Principal Dancer, Cameron Catazaro, Cameron Catazaro Principal Dancer, Hannah Fischer, Hannah Fischer Principal Dancer, Samantha Hope Galler, Samantha Hope Galler Principal Dancer, Macarena Giménez, Macarena Giménez Principal Dancer, Ashley Knox, Ashley Knox Principal Dancer, Steven Loch, Steven Loch Principal Dancer, Taylor Naturkas, Taylor Naturkas Principal Dancer, Stanislav Olshanskyi, Stanislav Olshanskyi Principal Dancer, Alexander Peters, Alexander Peters Principal Dancer, Chase Swatosh, Chase Swatosh Principal Dancer, Shimon Ito, Shimon Ito Principal Soloist Dancer, Damian Zamorano, Damian Zamorano Principal Soloist Dancer, Adrienne Carter, Adrienne Carter Soloist Dancer, Isabella DeVivo, Isabella DeVivo Soloist Dancer, Satoki Habuchi, Satoki Habuchi Soloist Dancer, Anabel Katsnelson, Anabel Katsnelson Soloist Dancer, Nicole Stalker, Nicole Stalker Soloist Dancer, Peyton Andersen, Peyton Andersen Corps De Ballet, Shadian Rodolfo Aquia, Shadian Rodolfo Aquia Corps De Ballet, Scarlett Barone, Scarlett Barone Corps De Ballet, Katya Chernyshev, Katya Chernyshev Corps De Ballet, Rachel Collett, Rachel Collett Corps De Ballet, Lazaro Corrales, Lazaro Corrales Corps De Ballet, Antonia Deprey, Antonia Deprey Corps De Ballet, Sujanya Dhillon, Sujanya Dhillon Corps De Ballet, Guillermo Dominquez, Guillermo Dominquez Corps De Ballet, Lorenzo Dunton, Lorenzo Dunton Corps De Ballet, Mary Kate Edwards, Mary Kate Edwards Corps De Ballet, Maddie Goodman, Maddie Goodman Corps De Ballet, Ilona Halloran Rojas, Ilona Halloran Rojas Corps De Ballet, Chloe Humphrey, Chloe Humphrey Corps De Ballet, Maximiliano Iglesias, Maximiliano Iglesias Corps De Ballet, Alexander Kaden, Alexander Kaden Corps De Ballet, Isabelle Lapierre, Isabelle Lapierre Corps De Ballet, Andrew Larose, Andrew Larose Corps De Ballet, Suzette Logue, Suzette Logue Corps De Ballet, Jordan Martinez, Jordan Martinez Corps De Ballet, Yuliia Moskalenko, Yuliia Moskalenko Corps De Ballet, Lucy Nevin, Lucy Nevin Corps De Ballet, SarahAnne Perel, SarahAnne Perel Corps De Ballet, Jasmine Perry, Jasmine Perry Corps De Ballet, Kaelah Poulos-Hopkins, Kaelah Poulos-Hopkins Corps De Ballet, Ethan Rodrigues, Ethan Rodrigues Corps De Ballet, Emryck Sanchez-Raffy, Emryck Sanchez-Raffy Corps De Ballet, Giselle Tirét, Giselle Tirét Corps De Ballet, Company Apprentices, Gabriel Ahrens, Gabriel Ahrens Apprentice, Brianna Dougherty, Brianna Dougherty Apprentice, Caelan Gagnon, Caelan Gagnon Apprentice, Sofia Osorio, Sofia Osorio Apprentice, Yeva-Mariia Skorenka, Yeva-Mariia Skorenka Apprentice, Artistic and Production, Roma Sosenko, Roma Sosenko Principal Rehearsal Director, Joan Latham, Joan Latham Rehearsal Director, Arnold Quintane, Arnold Quintane Rehearsal Director, Tricia Albertson, Tricia Albertson Rehearsal Director, Kelly Brown, Kelly Brown Director Of Production, Ricardo Asturias, Ricardo Asturias Wardrobe Master, MCB Orchestra, Gary Sheldon, Gary Sheldon Music Director & Principal Conductor, Francisco Rennó, Francisco Rennó Company Artist, Violins, Mei Mei Luo, Mei Mei Luo Concertmaster, Geremy Miller, Geremy Miller Associate Concertmaster, Erika Venable, Erika Venable Assistant Concertmaster, Dina Kostic, Dina Kostic Principal Second Violin, Samvel Arakelyan, Siobhan Cronin, Sheena Gutierrez, Eduardo Martinez, Akiko Rivera, Anthony Seepersad, Victoria Stepanenko, Viola, Michael O’Gieblyn, Alexandra D’Amico, Valerie Judd, Angela Kratchmer, Cello, Ashley Garritson, Philip Lakofsky, Elizabeth Aron, Shea Kole, Christopher Glansdorp, Aaron Merritt, Bass, Janet Clippard, Susan Dirgins-Friend, Douglas Ferreira, Amy Nickler, Flute/Piccolo, Karen Fuller, Betania Canas, Elizabeth Lu, Emilio Rutlant, Oboe, Erin Gittelsohn, Kendra Hawley, Alexis Porcaro, English Horn, Erin Gittelsohn, Kendra Hawley, Alexis Porcaro, Clarinet, Richard Hancock, Nataniel Farrar, Amalie Wyrick-Flax, Bass Clarinet, Amalie Wyrick-Flax, Bassoon, Christina Bonatakis, Carlos Garcia, French Horn, Christopher Komer, Stan Spinola, Amber Dean, Sharon Selinger, Ania Kucia, Trumpet, Kevin Lyons, David Hunsicker, Ricardo Chinchilla, Michael Hankins, Matthew Shefcik, Trombone, Gilberto Cruz, Karla Rojas, Bass Trombone, Dan Satterwhite, Tuba, Calvin Jenkins, Timpani, Andrew Proctor, Percussion, Mikhail Mikhelson, Doug Friend, Michael Dehan, Harp, Kristina Finch, Piano/Celeste, Ciro Fodere, Anthony Seepersad, From Our Apollo Members, Murray and Sylvana Klein, Murray and Sylvana Klein Palm Beach Gardens, Susan Mark, Susan Mark West Palm Beach, Nora Weinreich, Nora Weinreich Miami Beach, Marketing And Communications, Tom Michel, Tom Michel Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Mary Landreth, Mary Landreth Senior Director of Marketing and Business Development, Ali Castro, Ali Castro Director of Marketing, Katharine Baines, Katharine Baines CRM Operations Manager, Isabella Grocelli de Oliveira, Isabella Grocelli de Oliveira Content and Media Manager, Kaitlin Duffy, Kaitlin Duffy Creative Services Manager, Mina Rhee, Mina Rhee Senior Production Designer, Production Technical, Kelly Brown, Kelly Brown Director of Production, Bailey Kirk, Bailey Kirk Assistant Stage Manager, Brian Harris, Brian Harris Head Carpenter, Nicanor Smith, Nicanor Smith Properties Master, Shane Cassidy, Shane Cassidy Head Electrician, Elvin Thomas, Elvin Thomas Assistant Electrician, Sean M. Deceunick, Sean M. Deceunick Sound Engineer, James Sampedro, James Sampedro Assistant Carpenter/Flymar, Gary Darling, Gary Darling Properties Assistant, Wilmer Arellano, Wilmer Arellano Projection Operator, Wardrobe, Ricardo Asturias, Ricardo Asturias Wardrobe Master, Eleanor Wolfe, Eleanor Wolfe Wardrobe Consultant, Natalie Axley, Natalie Axley Wardrobe Mistress, Ibis Hernandez, Ibis Hernandez School Wardrobe Mistress, Julia Villalobos, Julia Villalobos Sticher, Alberto Fages, Alberto Fages Sticher, Helen Cave, Helen Cave Shoe Inventory Assistant, Carol Raskin, Carol Raskin Hair and Makeup Artist,
©Daniel Azoulay Studio