Thread: Composers whose non-ballet music works as ballet music

A few spring to mind, but really only as hypotheticals, I don't know if choreography for these pieces actually exists. Gershwin, I think, should come as no surprise as a good choice for choreography. His music is often cited for its melodic qualities, but I think his sense of rhythm was also very keen as exemplified by the Cuban Overture and the Piano Concerto.

Mahler's scherzos, particularly his later, more angular ones, would make for very interesting ballet music. I'd be surprised if most of them hadn't been treated this way already. I know there was a stage work which made use of Mahler's 3rd, although when I think of dance that isn't one of his that immediately springs to mind.

Scelsi's Khoom for string quartet, percussion, horn and soprano is full of exciting and unusual rhythms, and would be a great score for dance. The characteristic Scelsian drones in some of the "episodes" would also make for an interesting contrast, a very slow type of dance that would offset the frenetic quality of the other parts. The mannered Gagaku style comes to mind as a good jumping off point.

Don't forget Jerome Robbins and his Chopin obsession.

I was impressed with Preljocaj's usage of Mahler symphony music in his version of "Snow White". Passages from the 2nd and 3rd symphonies seemed to work especially well.

Some of Chopin's pieces where orchestrated into a ballet called Les Sylphides. Trust Glazunov to do it, himself one of the great Russian masters of ballet. Respighi arranged some of Rossini's tunes into a piece called La Boutique Fantasque. Another one like this is Offenbach arranged by Manuel Rosenthal into Gaite Parisienne. The late conductor Sir Charles Mackerras did the same for Arthur Sullivan in Pineapple Poll. Another one is J. Strauss II's tunes arranged by Antal Dorati into Graduation Ball. All of these would be on youtube and are well worth a listen! Its interesting to try and work out which tune is from which opera, operetta, etc.

Peter Pan, a new ballet by choreographer Trey McIntyre debut this year. It was performed by the Houston ballet and the PA ballet. Music consisted of 22 pieces by Elgar including the violin solo from the Crown of India Suite, Wand of Youth Suites 1&2, and In The South Overture.
I did not see it but my sister did and she enjoyed it immensely. Plot was easy to follow, since we are all very familiar with it. I'm not sure if there are any plans for any other company to perform it in the future.

My wife and I saw it with the Philadelphia Ballet and throughly enjoyed it.