Rodeo (The Courting at Burnt Ranch)

Date of Premiere: October 16, 1942. Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Metropolitan Opera House, New York

Original Cast: Agnes de Mille (Cowgirl), Frederic Franklin (Champion Roper), Casimir Kokitch (Head Wrangler), Milada Mladova (Rancher’s Daughter)

Music: Aaron Copland

Running Time: 32 minutes

Cast: 2 female leads, 2 male leads, 3 female demi-soloists, 5 female ensemble, 8 male ensemble. Cowgirl, Champion Roper, Head Wrangler, Rancher's Daughter, Kansas City Girls (3)

Womenfolk (5), Cowhands (8). Number of womenfolk and cowhands can occasionally be reduced.

With its world famous score by Aaron Copeland, Rodeo is Agnes de Mille's most beloved and most frequently presented ballet. Agnes de Mille danced the leading role and received 22 curtain calls. The ballet was the beginning of her success as a choreographer of worldwide reputation.

Rodeo is the touching story of a tomboy in search of love. The cowgirl, who de Mille admitted was based on herself as a young woman, is a misfit among the men and women in her community. Agnes has said, "She acts like a boy, not to be a boy, but to be liked by the boys." Hers is a bitter lesson, but she learns it at the ballet's denouement when she puts on a dress and goes to the hoe-down. She finds her man, and she finds him through dancing. The ballet features bravura dancing for the men in a unique style derived from horseback riding and cattle roping. A robust, tender ballet, Rodeo is a celebration of the optimism, pluck and spirit of the American character.

Above Photo: Martha Butler (Cowgirl), Photo credit: unknown. American Ballet Theatre

Cover Photo: Rodeo. American Ballet Theatre. Photo: Andrea Mohin/The New York Times/Redux

Video clip from Rodeo. PBS. WNET/13-TV. 1973. American Ballet Theatre. Christine Sarry (Cowgirl), Terrence Orr (Champion Roper), Marcos Paredes (Head Wrangler)