Composed by Gershwin specifically for the ballerina Harriet Hoctor, the piece features string glissandos, rapid shifts in key, and the most extensive parts are written for the harp.
It consists of a dramatic introduction followed by a fast waltz, a stately procession, an extended pas de deux, and a climactic reprise (also noted in some books as a separate "Shall We Dance", "Masks" or "Finale and Coda" scene.)
This is the only published music from the Shall We Dance score available besides the Walking the Dog sequence, and is significant as the last long composition written by Gershwin for the symphony orchestra.
The premiere live concert performance of Hoctor's Ballet took place on July 28, 2007 at the Severance Hall Pavilion in Cleveland, Ohio, with Loras John Schissel conducting the Blossom Festival Orchestra.
The entire Gershwin project may take 30 to 40 years to complete, and it is unclear when the score to Shall We Dance (which includes Hoctor's Ballet) will be released.