Dello Joio was actively involved in ballet from the very beginning of his career as a composer. On Stage was written by Dello Joio in 1945 for a new ballet production by the American Ballet Theatre (ABT). The composition, direction, choreography, and lead role were handled by the up-and-coming Michael Kidd, then a resident artist at ABT. It premiered on October 4, 1945, at the Boston Opera House, where it was well-received. While ABT enjoys high popularity among Japanese ballet fans, it is understandable that On Stage, performed immediately after the end of the war, is largely unknown in Japan. The composer himself created a suite for two pianos, extracted from the ballet music. It consists of three movements: fast, slow, and fast. As Hindemith recognized early on, lyricism lies at the core of Dello Joio's music. In this work, too, he achieves a superb balance, reconciling modernism with his own individuality. The performance difficulty is not high, making it a compact and accessible work.

• 1. Overture Con brio 3/4 D major
• 2. Pas de deux Andante semplice 4/4 E-flat major
• 3. Polka Allegro moderato 2/2 C major