Justin Peck’s The Times Are Racing is a kinetic burst of urgency and optimism, set to Dan Deacon’s electrifying electronic suite USA I-IV. Premiered by New York City Ballet in 2017, the ballet pulses with the energy of a society in flux—its title a nod to both the speed of modern life and the political undercurrents that shaped its creation.

Peck’s choreography breaks from classical tradition, embracing streetwear, sneakers, and a dynamic movement vocabulary that blends ballet, tap, and pedestrian gesture. The dancers—clad in brightly colored, oversized garments—form shifting clusters, lift one another in ritualistic cycles, and race across the stage in bursts of communal momentum. These moments evoke both solidarity and individual emergence, suggesting a collective striving toward transformation.

At the heart of the ballet is a duet originally danced by Peck and Robert Fairchild, a poignant exchange that blurs the line between alter egos, collaborators, and comrades. Their interaction, along with other unconventional pairings, challenges traditional gender roles and pas de deux structures, offering a fresh lens on connection and support.

The Times Are Racing is a celebration of movement as resistance, resilience, and renewal. It captures the spirit of a generation navigating uncertainty with creativity and courage—an exhilarating reminder that dance can reflect the times, and perhaps even shape them.

Choreography
Justin Peck

Staging
Giovanni Villalobos

Music
USA I-IV, America by Dan Deacon

Costumes 
Humberto Leon
courtesy of The Joffrey Ballet

Lighting
Brandon Stirling Baker
Yi-Chung Chen, Associate Designer