Wikipedia
Theme and Variations is a ballet by George Balanchine to the final movement of Tchaikovsky's Suite No. 3 for Orchestra in G major, Op. 55 (1884). The premiere took place on 26 November 1947, with Ballet Theatre (shortly thereafter renamed American Ballet Theatre) at City Center of Music and Drama. The conductor was Benjamin Steinberg. Theme and Variations was conceived especially for Alicia Alonso and Igor Youskevitch. The City Ballet premiere occurred 5 February 1960, again at City Center. It was incorporated by Balanchine into his later Tchaikovsky Suite No. 3 as its fourth (and final) movement, now titled Tema con variazioni. Theme and Variations is still danced independently of the other three movements of Tschaikovsky Suite No. 3 by NYCB as well as other companies.
Usage examples of "theme and variations".
There was nothing new in the Game, had been nothing new for years, only the same sterile repetitions, theme and variations all gone stale with overuse.