Great Galloping Gottschalk is a contemporary ballet

Ballet

Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...

 with choreography by Lynne Taylor-Corbett

Lynne Taylor-Corbett

Lynne Taylor-Corbett is a choreographer, director, lyricist, and composer. She was born in Denver, Colorado.She works in theatre and film, and also choreographs for dance companies, both ballet and modern, and is the principal guest choreographer for Carolina Ballet...

, set to the music of American composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk

Louis Moreau Gottschalk

Louis Moreau Gottschalk was an American composer and pianist, best known as a virtuoso performer of his own romantic piano works...

. It premiered with the American Ballet Theater (ABT) at the Miami Beach Theater of the Performing Arts on January 12, 1982.

Music

The music, reminiscent of ragtime

Ragtime

Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...

, consists of six selections from Gottschalk's piano works:

• Souvenir de Porto Rico
  Souvenir de Porto Rico
  Souvenir de Porto Rico , Op. 31, D. 147, is a musical composition by Louis Moreau Gottschalk for solo piano in 1857, during a tour in Puerto Rico. It is based on the folk song Si me dan pasteles, demenlos calientes, performed by the local peasants known as Jibaros...
  
  
• The Dying Poet
• Tournament Galop
• La Savane / Oh Ma Charmante
• Le Bananier
• La Manchiega

Productions

Since its ABT premiere, Great Galloping Gottschalk has been staged by numerous ballet companies, including the Pennsylvania Ballet

Pennsylvania Ballet

Founded in 1963 by Balanchine student and protégée Barbara Weisberger, Pennsylvania Ballet is one of the leading ballet companies in the United States. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the company’s annual local season features six programs of classic favorites and new works, including the...

,
Carolina Ballet

Carolina Ballet

Carolina Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1997 which performs primarily in Raleigh, North Carolina and throughout the state. It has toured to New York City, Hungary and China. Robert Weiss, the artistic director, danced for George Balanchine for sixteen years at New York City Ballet and...

,
BalletMet Columbus,
Kansas City Ballet,
and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre is an American professional ballet company based in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.- History :...

.