Sabre Dance

"Sabre Dance" (, "Suserov par"; , "Tanets s sablyami") is a movement in the final act of Aram Khachaturian's ballet "Gayane" (1942), where the dancers display their skill with sabres. It is Khachaturian's best known and most recognizable work. He apparently felt that its popularity "deflected attention from his other works."
Its middle section is based on an unnamed Armenian folk song. According to Tigran Mansurian, it is a synthesis of an Armenian wedding dance tune from Gyumri tied in a saxophone counterpoint "that seems to come straight from America."
"Sabre Dance" is considered one of the signature pieces of twentieth-century popular music. It was popularized by covers by pop artists, first in the US and later in other countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany. Its use in a wide range of films and television series over the decades have significantly contributed to its renown. "Sabre Dance" has also been used by a number of figure skaters from at least five countries in their performances. Tom Huizenga of NPR describes it as "one of the catchiest, most familiar—perhaps most maddening—tunes to come out of the 20th century." "Billboard" magazine calls it "a piece that's known to every pops orchestra in existence."
Hit in the US.
In 1948 the "Sabre Dance" became a jukebox hit in the United States. Due to its popularity, "Newsweek" suggested that 1948 could be called "Khachaturian Year in the United States." That year three versions of the "Sabre Dance" reached number one in the "Billboard" Best-Selling Records by Classical Artists:
These three versions were included in Year's Top Selling Classical Artists by "Billboard" in 1948. The "Sabre Dance" became the first million-selling record of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. According to the "Current Biography Yearbook", it was Levant's performance that "received popular attention."
Hit in the UK.
An electric guitar version by Dave Edmunds' band Love Sculpture reached No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1968.
In popular culture.
The "Sabre Dance" has been used in numerous films, animated films, television series, video games, and commercials over the years, oftentimes for humorous effects. The piece's popular familiarity has been enhanced by its traditional use as accompaniment by travelling circuses and on television variety shows such as "The Ed Sullivan Show" when novelty acts such as plate spinners appeared.
Some notable television shows that have used it include "The Jack Benny Program" (1961), "A Piano in the House" from "The Twilight Zone" (1962), "The Onedin Line" (1971 and 1972), "The Benny Hill Show" (1985), "Our Very First Telethon" episode of "Full House" (1990), "The Simpsons" (1991), "Two and a Half Men" (2004), "What's New, Scooby-Doo?" (2004), "Peterotica" episode of "Family Guy" (2006), "SpongeBob SquarePants" (2007), and "The Big Bang Theory" (2009). The song was featured in The Amazing Race 28, when teams travelled to Armenia and had to search the Yerevan Opera Theater for their next clue.
On June 6, 2013 on the 110th anniversary of Khachaturian’s birthday a modern take of the Sabre Dance—"Sabre Dance on the Street"—was performed at Yerevan Cascade by Barekamutyun dance ensemble and Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.
Films.
Films in which the "Sabre Dance" was used include 
"The Barkleys of Broadway" (1949), "One, Two, Three" (1961), "The System" (1964), "The Seven Brides of Lance-Corporal Zbruyev" (1970), "Amarcord" (1973), "Well, Just You Wait!" 6th episode "Countryside" (1973), "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" (1985), "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (1986), "Repentance" (1987), "Punchline" (1988), "Hocus Pocus" (1993), "Radioland Murders" (1994), "The Hudsucker Proxy" (1994), "Don't Drink the Water" (1994), "I Married a Strange Person!" (1997), "Vegas Vacation" (1997), "A Simple Wish" (1997), "Blues Brothers 2000" (1998), "The Lion King 1½" (2004), "Kung Fu Hustle" (2005), "Scoop" (2006), "Sicko" (2007), "Ghost Town" (2008), "Witless Protection" (2008), "Le Concert" (2009), "Pájaros de papel" (2010), "Sabre Dance" (2015). In his frenzied comedy "One, Two, Three", director Billy Wilder used the dance repeatedly for comic effect, including a crazed chase through East Berlin, and the chaotic closing ride to the airport featuring James Cagney and Horst Bucholz. It was also played briefly in "".
Video games.
Video games in which the "Sabre Dance" was used include:
In sports.
The National Hockey League (NHL)'s Buffalo Sabres have used the piece as a theme song since the team was established in 1970. After a hiatus, the "Sabre Dance" was again made their theme song in 2011.
In 2010–13, the "Sabre Dance" became popular in the city of Donetsk, Ukraine, because it was played in Donbass Arena, the venue of FC Shakhtar Donetsk, whenever the Armenian football player Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored a goal.
The "Sabre Dance" was featured in the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony held in Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, Russia on February 7.
Figure skating.
The "Sabre Dance" has been used by numerous figure skaters, including: