95. AMERICAN SPIRIT
June 5, 2026
“Nowadays, it’s hard to pin down what the American spirit is all about, but in the past Aaron Copland, the composer known for his spare, cinematic compositions, captured an idea of its essence in works like ‘Appalachian Spring’ and ‘Billy the Kid.’ It’s not just the sounds, but also the way they evoke a sense of space and time. There’s an aspirational air to the music, a feeling of hope and the promise of unknown opportunities. Life could be different, and different could start now.
Justin Peck, the resident choreographer and artistic adviser of New York City Ballet, has long been attracted to Americana, on Broadway and in film—‘Carousel’ and ‘West Side Story’ —and in ballet, like ‘Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes’ (2015), his interpretation of Copland’s 1942 score, originally composed for Agnes de Mille.”
(Source: Kourlas, Gia. 2023. “Review: Justin Peck Runs Out of Steam in ’Copland Dance Episodes.’” The New York Times, January 27.)
Related: IN TUNE, MYSTIC FAMILIAR, THE BIG FISH, DANCE TO BELONG, DANCE LESSONS, STUDIO 61, RODEO