Par JOPLIN SCOTT. The Ragtime Dance by Scott Joplin originated as a short ragtime folk ballet, accompanied by narration and choreography. It was first performed in 1899, but because of hesitation concerning the marketability of such a work, it was not published until 1902. As was feared, it was a commercial failure, however this led to a later 1906 publication in a solo piano arrangement. It is th…