Ballet HistoryBallet History

8th Grade Physical Education8th Grade Physical Education

Ballet BeginningsBallet Beginnings Catherine de MediciCatherine de Medici- Italian Princess, - Italian Princess,

brought Italian performers & culture to brought Italian performers & culture to France France October 15, 1581- First ballet performed called October 15, 1581- First ballet performed called

Comique de la Reine, political satireComique de la Reine, political satire

Became very fashionable for all the wealthy Became very fashionable for all the wealthy to learn to danceto learn to dance

The first ballet “stars” were all kingsThe first ballet “stars” were all kings

Ballet CodifiedBallet Codified Louis Louis XIV, XIV, Sun King- 1650’sSun King- 1650’s

Used dance as a way to control his court. Where you Used dance as a way to control his court. Where you danced & how good you were affected your power with danced & how good you were affected your power with the king. Everyone was so busy trying to win favor with the king. Everyone was so busy trying to win favor with their dance skill, no one tried to plot against him. their dance skill, no one tried to plot against him.

Opened Paris Opera & Paris Opera Ballet SchoolOpened Paris Opera & Paris Opera Ballet School Louis hired Pierre Beauchamps to define specific Louis hired Pierre Beauchamps to define specific

steps, name them, turn-out, positions, & technique steps, name them, turn-out, positions, & technique Marie Camargo- shortened skirt to show off her feet Marie Camargo- shortened skirt to show off her feet

when she jumped, scandalous!when she jumped, scandalous! Costumes- heavy tight, constricted use of arms, Costumes- heavy tight, constricted use of arms,

high heelshigh heels Ballet d’Action- story is told though gesture & Ballet d’Action- story is told though gesture &

pantomimepantomime

Louis XIII, the Sun Louis XIII, the Sun King, performing as King, performing as Apollo, the Sun GodApollo, the Sun God

Marie CamargoMarie Camargo

Romantic Ballet: Romantic Ballet: Early 1800’sEarly 1800’s Themes: Themes:

foreign landsforeign lands escaping daily human life- the working class became more important escaping daily human life- the working class became more important

during the French & Industrial Revolution, fewer stories about royaltyduring the French & Industrial Revolution, fewer stories about royalty Feminine- ballerina worship Feminine- ballerina worship unattainable love- supernatural beings, depressing endings, unattainable love- supernatural beings, depressing endings, Forest settings- more magical than cities, most people lived in cities & Forest settings- more magical than cities, most people lived in cities &

worked in factories, new technology for forest effects (gas lights, pointe worked in factories, new technology for forest effects (gas lights, pointe shoes, tulle-light, hid human legs, floating & supernaturally white)shoes, tulle-light, hid human legs, floating & supernaturally white)

Famous Ballets: Giselle, La Sylphide, & Pas de QuatreFamous Ballets: Giselle, La Sylphide, & Pas de Quatre August Bournonville- began Danish school of Ballet August Bournonville- began Danish school of Ballet

Technique, have the same class for each day of the week!Technique, have the same class for each day of the week! Marie Taglioni-huge star of the era, first to dance en pointe, Marie Taglioni-huge star of the era, first to dance en pointe,

““In 1837 she traveled to Russia, where sweets and hairstyles were names after In 1837 she traveled to Russia, where sweets and hairstyles were names after her. After her last performance a group of ardent fans purchased a pair of her her. After her last performance a group of ardent fans purchased a pair of her pointe shoes for two hundred roubles and put them into a sauce which they ate.”pointe shoes for two hundred roubles and put them into a sauce which they ate.”

Pas de Quatre Giselle

La Sylphide

Marie Taglioni

Classical BalletClassical Ballet 1783, Catherine 1783, Catherine IIII, the Great, Czarina of Russia, , the Great, Czarina of Russia,

began the Marriinsky Ballet Theatre (Kirov Ballet) in began the Marriinsky Ballet Theatre (Kirov Ballet) in St. Petersburg, government paid for everythingSt. Petersburg, government paid for everything

Marius Petipa- Russian ballet master & renowned Marius Petipa- Russian ballet master & renowned choreographer, choreographed over 50 ballets,choreographer, choreographed over 50 ballets,

Petipa/Classical Style: Showed off technique while Petipa/Classical Style: Showed off technique while the plot was secondary the plot was secondary 5-6 acts long, at least two acts were pantomime or party scenes5-6 acts long, at least two acts were pantomime or party scenes Lavish and expensiveLavish and expensive Usually about royalty, nobility or fantasy & fairy talesUsually about royalty, nobility or fantasy & fairy tales Divertissement- diversion from the story, danced just to show off Divertissement- diversion from the story, danced just to show off

technique, lots of peasant character dances from around the worldtechnique, lots of peasant character dances from around the world

Bigger Corps de BalletBigger Corps de Ballet

Grand Pas de Deux- for male & female principal Grand Pas de Deux- for male & female principal dancers, four partsdancers, four parts Entrée (entrance) & AdagioEntrée (entrance) & Adagio Male VariationMale Variation Female VariationFemale Variation CodaCoda

Famous Ballets: Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Famous Ballets: Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Pharoh’s Daughter, La Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Pharoh’s Daughter, La Bayadere, Les Corsaire, Don Quixote, PaquitaBayadere, Les Corsaire, Don Quixote, Paquita

Classical Tutu- designed by Petipa to show off his Classical Tutu- designed by Petipa to show off his choreography, has as much fabric as length of a choreography, has as much fabric as length of a football field (100 yards)football field (100 yards)

Enrico Cecchetti- developed Italian training Enrico Cecchetti- developed Italian training methodmethod

Sleeping BeautySwan Lake

The Nutcracker

CoppeliaLa Bayadere

Contemporary Era, Contemporary Era, 1909-1909-NowNow Sergei Diaghilev-Sergei Diaghilev- began the Ballet Russe company began the Ballet Russe company that toured all over the worldthat toured all over the world Diaghilev Style: total theatre- idea that music, dance, Diaghilev Style: total theatre- idea that music, dance,

costume, setting, light, & design were all equally important, costume, setting, light, & design were all equally important, collaboration in the artscollaboration in the arts The dancing told the story not the mime, full body expressiveness, The dancing told the story not the mime, full body expressiveness,

less corps de balletless corps de ballet

Many famous dancers: Vaslav Nijinksy, Anna PavlovaMany famous dancers: Vaslav Nijinksy, Anna Pavlova Artists, Choreographers, & Musicians- Bakst, Benois, Artists, Choreographers, & Musicians- Bakst, Benois,

Mikhail Fokine, Vaslav Nijinsky, George Balanchine & Igor Mikhail Fokine, Vaslav Nijinsky, George Balanchine & Igor Stravinsky, Picasso, DaliStravinsky, Picasso, Dali

Famous Ballets: Les Sylphides, Petrushka, La Spectre de Famous Ballets: Les Sylphides, Petrushka, La Spectre de la Rose, Afternoon of a Faun, Rite of Spring, Les Noches, la Rose, Afternoon of a Faun, Rite of Spring, Les Noches, Apollo, Prodigal SonApollo, Prodigal Son

Apollo

Les SylphidesLes Sylphides

Les NochesLes NochesPetrushkaPetrushka

Afternoon of a FaunAfternoon of a Faun

La Spectre La Spectre de la Rosede la Rose

George Balanchine-George Balanchine- Invited by Lincoln Kirstein to leave Russia & Ballet Invited by Lincoln Kirstein to leave Russia & Ballet

Russe & come to AmericaRusse & come to America 1948-first to create a successful American 1948-first to create a successful American

company, New York City Balletcompany, New York City Ballet Famous Ballets: Serenade (based on rehearsal Famous Ballets: Serenade (based on rehearsal

mishaps), Jewels, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, mishaps), Jewels, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Concerto Barocco, Prodigal Son, Apollo, Stars & Concerto Barocco, Prodigal Son, Apollo, Stars & Stripes, Steadfast Tin Soldier, Sylvia Pas de Deux, Stripes, Steadfast Tin Soldier, Sylvia Pas de Deux, Western Symphony, Western Symphony,

Sylvia

Jewels- Rubies Western Symphony

Stars & Stripes

Serenade

Major Companies Around Major Companies Around the Worldthe World

United StatesUnited States American Ballet Theatre (JKO School)American Ballet Theatre (JKO School) New York City Ballet (School of American Ballet)New York City Ballet (School of American Ballet)

RussiaRussia Mariinsky Theatre Ballet, called Kirov Ballet during Communism, Mariinsky Theatre Ballet, called Kirov Ballet during Communism,

(Vaganova Institute)(Vaganova Institute) Bolshoi Ballet Theatre Bolshoi Ballet Theatre

England England Royal Ballet Theatre (Royal Ballet School, Royal Dance Academy)Royal Ballet Theatre (Royal Ballet School, Royal Dance Academy)

FranceFrance Paris Opera Ballet (Paris Opera School)Paris Opera Ballet (Paris Opera School)

DenmarkDenmark Royal Danish Ballet (Bournonville School)Royal Danish Ballet (Bournonville School)

ItalyItaly La Scala (Checcitti School)La Scala (Checcitti School)