| Mercurial Manoeuvres | |
| Italic Title: | yes |
| Choreographer: | Christopher Wheeldon |
| Composer: | Dmitri Shostakovich |
| Place: | New York State Theater |
| Ballet Company: | New York City Ballet |
| Designer: | Carole Divet |
Mercurial Manoeuvres is a ballet choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon to Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 1, with costumes designed by Carole Divet. The ballet premiered on April 28, 2000 at the New York State Theater.[1]
The first movement features a male soloist, two female demi-soloists, four male demi-soloists and a corps de ballet of twelve women. The second movement is a pas de deux. The entire cast then return to the stage for the final movement.[1]
Mercurial Manoeuvres was made as part of the New York City Ballet's Diamond Project. The original cast includes Miranda Weese, Jock Soto, Edwaard Liang, Audrey Morgan and Elena Diner.[1] When the ballet was made, Wheeldon was dancing with the company as a soloist.[1] He retired from performing after Mercurial Manoeuvres to become a full-time choreographer.[2]
In 2020, in response to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the performing arts, the New York City Ballet will release a 2017 video recording of the pas de deux from Mercurial Manoeuvres, featuring Tiler Peck and Tyler Angle.[3]