''Suite en Blanc'', later retitled ''Noir et Blanc'', is a

ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...

choreographed by

Serge Lifar Serge Lifar (, ''Serhіy Mуkhailovуch Lуfar'') ( 15 December 1986) was a Ukrainian dancer, choreographer, and one of the greatest male ballet dancers of the 20th century. Lifar was also a choreographer, director, writer, theoretician abou ...

to music from

Édouard Lalo Édouard-Victoire-Antoine Lalo (27 January 182322 April 1892) was a French composer, violist, violinist, and academic teacher. His most celebrated piece is the '' Symphonie Espagnole'', a five-movement concerto for violin and orchestra that re ...

's ballet '' Namouna''. The first performance, by the

Paris Opera Ballet The Paris Opera Ballet () is a French ballet company that is an integral part of the Paris Opera. It is the oldest national ballet company, and many European and international ballet companies can trace their origins to it. It is still regarded a ...

, took place on 19 June 1943 in Zurich. It was an abstract neo-classical ballet produced during the German Occupation of France. The original costumes were all white, whence the title ("Suite in White"), but in subsequent productions the male dancers wore black and the title was changed to reflect this ("Black and White").Australian Ballet: Suite en Blanc
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References

Sources

*''The Oxford Dictionary of Dance'' (p.431), Debra Craine, Judith Mackrell, 2nd ed 2010 ] 1943 ballets Ballets by Serge Lifar Ballets to the music of Édouard Lalo {{ballet-stub