Arnold's two sets of English Dances, Opp. 27 and 33 (written in 1950 and 1951 respectively), proved to be quite popular, so much so that Arnold returned to them in assembling his ballet Solitaire, which was given its first performance by the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet and Orchestra, the latter led by John Lanchbery, on June 7, 1956. The ballet featured choreography by Kenneth MacMillan, who described the work as "a kind of game for one." The plot involves a girl who tries to get involved in the playground games of her friends but always ends up alone.

For this new dance work Arnold used all eight of the English Dances but changed their sequence, employing the subdued Op. 33/3 as a prelude and postlude. He also added two newly composed pieces for the center of the ballet: a lovely, lilting sarabande that served as a tender pas-de-deux, and a lighthearted, almost silly polka designed, according to Arnold, to "clear the air after the 'Sarabande.'"

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