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The original ballet was choreographed by Agnes De Mille for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, a dance company that moved to the United States during World War II. De Mille herself played the lead, and the premiere received 22 curtain calls.

"Hoe-Down", the ballet's final section, was prominently used by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association for television commercials in the US. "Hoe-Down" was based on the American Folk Song "Bonaparte's Retreat".

In 1946 Copland arranged just the "Hoe-Down" portion of the ballet for string orchestra, and later that year arranged the same piece for violin and piano.

In 1972 the Rock Band Emerson, Lake & Palmer recorded a version of "Hoedown" (note slightly altered spelling) for the album Trilogy , and the piece became a staple of the band's live shows.

In 2002 , "Hoe-Down" was used in the Opening Ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics of Salt Lake City . The piece was played during a hoe-down in the Olympic Stadium .