Graduation Ball

Graduation Ball is a ballet in one act choreographed by David Lichine to music composed by Johann Strauss II and arranged by Antal Doráti.

With a scenario devised by Lichine and with scenery and costumes designed by Alexandre Benois, it was first presented by the Original Ballet Russe at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, Australia, on 1 March 1940.

In the divertissements, Riabouchinska acted as Mistress of Ceremony, introducing the performers of the following numbers: The curtain opens to reveal a formal drawing room.

During his development of the scenario for Graduation Ball in 1939–40, David Lichine worked closely with both music director Antal Doráti and designer Alexandre Benois.

Doráti created the score for the ballet by selecting some less-familiar works of Johann Strauss II and weaving them into a coherent sequence.

The Old General was dressed in a red and white uniform with gold braid, and the Headmistress wore a matronly gown in shades of brown.

On 2 March 1940, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the premiere performance of Graduation Ball received twenty-five curtain calls.

The "Mathematics and Natural History Lesson" was dropped, and "Perpetuum Mobile," which originally consisted of a circus number for Riabouchinska and Lichine, was replaced by new choreography for the same dancers and two of the Junior Girls.