Ballet History Late 19 th & 20 th Century: Classical Era Russia, Ballet Russes & United States

Russia 19 th Century During the mid 19 th Century Ballet soared in Russia and new choreographers and composers took it to new heights with The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. The main purpose was to display classical technique: pointe work, high extensions, precision of movement and turn-out to the fullest. Complicated sequences that show off demanding steps, leaps and turns were choreographed into the story.

Russia 19 th Century The classical tutu, much shorter and stiffer than the romantic tutu, was introduced at this time to reveal a ballerina’s legs and the difficulty of her movements and footwork. These classical ballets always included a pas de deux for the male and female lead, followed by a difficult solo for each of them and a coda (a quick short finale). Maurice Petipa was one of the most prominent choreographer of the late 19 th century and is known as the “father of classical ballet.”

Ballet Russes At the end of the 19 th Century (1800s) Ballet was very strong in Russia and many of the famous classical ballets came from Russian Ballet masters. Serge Diaghilev, a patron of the arts, brought Ballet full circle back to Paris in the beginning of the 20 th century (1909) when he began the Ballet Russes consisting of Russian dancers in exile after the Revolution. Diaghilev paired with composer Igor Stravinsky and choreographers Michel Fokine, Vaslav Nijinsky, Enrico Checchetti and George Balanchine to create famous ballets such as, The Firebird, Petrushka and The Rite of Spring.

Russian Ballet Vaganova Approaching the mid 20 th Century (1900s) Ballet in Russia continued to develop under Soviet Rule. By the 1930s new dancers and choreographers began to appear on the scene. Precision and technical perfection was demanded by by Agrippina Vaganova, who had been taught by Petipa and Cecchetti and headed the Vaganova Ballet Academy. The Vaganova Ballet Academy was a prestigious ballet school that trained dancers for Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg/Leningrad. The Vaganova Technique is still taught today.

Russia Kirov Ballet In 1934 the former Mariinsky Ballet was renamed the Kirov Ballet. The Kirov Ballet is still recognized as one of the greatest ballet companies. Some of the greatest dancers and choreographers emerged from the Kirov Ballet, such as, Mikhail Fokine, Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, Tamara Karsavina, Natalia Makarova, Rudolf Nureyev, and Mikhail Baryshnikov. After leaving the Kirov Ballet Rudolf Nureyev began a legendary partnership with famous ballerina Margot Fonteyn.

Names to Remember Notable Ballets: Nutcracker Sleeping Beauty Swan Lake The Firebird Petrushka The Rite of Spring Notable Dancers & Choreographers: Anna Pavlova Michel Fokine George Balanchine Rudolf Nureyev Vaslav Nijinsky Margot Fonteyn Maurice Petipa Enrico Cecchetti Other Notable Names: Serge Diaghilev – founder of Ballet Russes Igor Stravinsky – famous composer