1. Modern Ballet

2. The Beginning Marius Petipa came to St. Petersburg from Italy in 1847.
Ballet master of the Imperial Ballet
Philosophy: Rigorous training for dancers from a young age ensured brilliant technique.

3. The Beginning Created the core of the Russian repertoire:
- Don Quixote
- Swan Lake
- The Nutcracker
- Sleeping Beauty
Composers such as Tchaikovsky collaborated with Petipa.

4. Ballet Russe

5. Ballet Russe Created by Sergei Diaghilev in 1909
One of the most influential ballet companies of the 20th century
Known for ground-breaking artistic collaboration among choreographers, composers, visual artists, and dancers
Choreographers included
Marius Petipa
Mikail Fokine
George Balanchine
Vaslav Nijinsky
Extra facts:
Debuted in 1911 in London with 13 members

6. Ballet Russe
It created a sensation in Western Europe because of the great vitality of Russian ballet compared to French dance
When company disbanded after Diaghilev’s death in 1929, many artists moved to America
Extra facts:
Debuted in 1911 in London with 13 members

7. American Ballet Theater (…and how the Soviet Union made that possible )

8. American Ballet Theater
Launched in 1939
Developed the best ballets from the past and encouraged the creation of new works by young choreographers.
Directors: Lucia Chase, Oliver Smith ( )
Includes all of the great full-length ballets of the 19th Century--Giselle, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty

9. American Ballet Theater
Recognized as one of the great dance companies in the world with a combination of great size, scope, and outreach.
Annually tours the U.S. performing for more than 450,000 people.
The ABT has also made more than 30 international tours to countries.

10. Mikail Fokine 1880-1942 Russia (moved to America 1923)
Essential to the crossover of ballet from Russia to America.
Principles of Reform:
dance should relate to the subject, period, and character of the music
meaning should be expressed by movement of the whole body
alliance among all aspects of the ballet: dance, music, scenic and costume design

11. The Firebird Premiere: June 25, 1910 Choreography: Mikhail Fokine
Music: Igor Stravinsky
Design: 
Alexandre Golovine
Léon Bakst
Cast: 
Tamara Karsavina
Mikhail Fokine

12. The Firebird
Plot:
Based on Russian folk tales of the magical glowing bird that is both a blessing and a curse to its captor.
Staged by George Balanchine for the New York City Ballet in 1949 with Maria Tallchief as the Firebird.
Watch Video

13. George Balanchine 1904-1983 Russia
The foremost contemporary choreographer in the world of ballet.
Studied at the Imperial School of Ballet during World War I.
After leaving the Soviet Union, he came to America and founded the school of American Ballet in 1934.

14. George Balanchine Founding the New York City Ballet in 1948
Acted as artistic director and chief choreographer
He was an international choreographer and almost every ballet company in the world has performed his work.

15. Stars and Stripes Created in 1958 Composed by John Philip Sousa
It is a full-company ballet complete with baton twirling, military marching and a regiment of rifle-bearing ballerinas.

16. Stars and Stripes Overview
Performed in 5 acts, or “campaigns,” it lasts an average of 28 minutes.
The fourth campaign is a challenging pas de deux with a coda set to the "Liberty Bell" and "El Capitan" which shows the virtuosity of the dancers.

17. Vaslay Nijinsky 1890-1950 Russia His parents were celebrated dancers
Joined Imperial School of Dance at age 9
Toured Paris with Sergei Diaghilev’s company in 1909.
Suffering from schizophrenia, he was forced to retire from the stage in 1919
He was in and out of institutions for the next years, never dancing again in public.

18. Rite of Spring Premiere: May 29th, 1913 Choreography: Vaslay Nijinsky
Music: 
Igor Stravinsky
Design: 
Nicholas Roerich
Duration:  33 minutes
Plot: a pagan ritual in which a young girl dances herself to death

19. Rite of Spring Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF1OQkHybEQ
Question 6 goes with part two
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:

20. Mikail Baryshnikov Born 1948 Best Ballet Male Dancer of 20th Century
Began dancing in Riga, Lativa
Debut made at Maryinsky Theater in 1967
Debut with ABA in 1974.
Principle dancer & artistic director
1990 founded the White Oak project with Mark Morris
most widely recognized contemporary ballet dancer because of acting ability

21. Mikail Baryshnikov
Became Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre in 1980
Under his leadership, numerous classical ballets were staged, restaged and refurbished, and the Company experienced a strengthening and refining of the classical tradition.
In 1990, Jane Hermann and Oliver Smith succeeded Baryshnikov and immediately established an agenda that was dedicated to maintaining the great traditions of the past while aggressively pursuing a vital and innovative future.

22. Scenes from White Night