The Great Gatsby Ballet

About the Production

The ballet immerses audiences in the glamour, excess, and underlying tragedy of the Roaring Twenties (the Jazz Age) in America. It emphasizes Art Deco aesthetics, lavish parties with champagne, jazz rhythms, and the emotional hollowness beneath the sparkle. Rhoden’s choreography is described as fluid, nervous, expressive, and dynamic—featuring extended lines, dramatic lifts, pas de deux charged with longing, energetic group numbers (including Charleston-inspired sequences and jazz hands), acrobatic elements, and contemporary breaks. It combines narrative-driven storytelling through movement with multimedia projections, cinematic effects, and theatrical staging. The original score is by composers Konstantin Meladze and Yurii Shepeta, incorporating 1920s jazz influences. Costumes (often sparkling, elegant, and period-inspired, with elements like flapper dresses, tuxedos, and embroidery) and sets enhance the opulent yet ephemeral atmosphere. Productions feature international casts of around 40 professional dancers from companies including Complexions Contemporary Ballet, major U.S. and Ukrainian theaters, and others.

Story by Acts