History Of BalletHistory Of Ballet

The Classical and Romantic The Classical and Romantic EraEra

History of BalletHistory of Ballet

Ballet refers to both a dance genre Ballet refers to both a dance genre and a particular danceand a particular dance

            -A dance genre is a large -A dance genre is a large category such as ballet, modern, or category such as ballet, modern, or jazzjazz

            --Swan LakeSwan Lake or or The Rite of SpringThe Rite of Spring are both ballets or dancesare both ballets or dances

Ballet performances blend Ballet performances blend choreographed movement choreographed movement with music and décor, and are with music and décor, and are performed by dancers trained performed by dancers trained primarily in classical ballet primarily in classical ballet technique. technique. 

Ballet TechniqueBallet Technique

Ballet technique includes the following Ballet technique includes the following characteristics:characteristics:

            -5 positions of the feet, using -5 positions of the feet, using ““turnoutturnout””             -use of pointed feet-use of pointed feet             -toe shoes for women-toe shoes for women             -codified positions of arms and legs-codified positions of arms and legs             -lightness, or pull away from gravity-lightness, or pull away from gravity             -movements emphasizing balance and -movements emphasizing balance and

elevation elevation 

Ballet TerminologyBallet Terminology

Ballet uses French terminology such asBallet uses French terminology such as

            -plié (bend of the knees)-plié (bend of the knees)             -pirouette (turn on one foot)-pirouette (turn on one foot)             -grand jeté (leap)-grand jeté (leap) -tendu ( stretch)-tendu ( stretch) -chasse (a sliding movement) -chasse (a sliding movement) 

MusicMusic

Traditional Romantic or Classical ballet is Traditional Romantic or Classical ballet is typically done:typically done:

to orchestral music of the 19th century.to orchestral music of the 19th century. The choreographer follows the rhythm and The choreographer follows the rhythm and

phrasing of the music, which was created phrasing of the music, which was created specifically for the ballet by composers specifically for the ballet by composers such as Peter Tchaikovsky and Serge such as Peter Tchaikovsky and Serge Prokofiev. Prokofiev. 

Major ballet companies may have 60-Major ballet companies may have 60-80 members, and are organized 80 members, and are organized hierarchically, with the corps de hierarchically, with the corps de ballets at the bottom, then soloists, ballets at the bottom, then soloists, and principals at the top. and principals at the top.

Ballet first developed in Ballet first developed in Europe in theEurope in the Renaissance Renaissance

periodperiod……

            -In Italy and France, dancing -In Italy and France, dancing masters taught royalty masters taught royalty and choreographed entertainments for and choreographed entertainments for the courtsthe courts

            -Italian intermezzi (late 1400s) were -Italian intermezzi (late 1400s) were interludes between acts of plays that interludes between acts of plays that combined dance, music, and dramacombined dance, music, and drama

Renaissance DanceRenaissance Dance

Renaissance court spectacles were often ornate and Renaissance court spectacles were often ornate and emphasized geometrical patterns emphasized geometrical patterns

They used steps that were taken from the popular ballroom They used steps that were taken from the popular ballroom dances of the daydances of the day

Steps became increasingly complex, and dancing masters Steps became increasingly complex, and dancing masters asked their pupils to practice them holding onto the backs asked their pupils to practice them holding onto the backs of chairs for balance; this is how the ballet of chairs for balance; this is how the ballet barrebarre developed developed

Dancing became stylish at all Renaissance courts in Europe, Dancing became stylish at all Renaissance courts in Europe,

including those of Queen Elizabeth I and Henry VIIIincluding those of Queen Elizabeth I and Henry VIII

Over time, ballet became more Over time, ballet became more professionalized….  professionalized….  

In the early 1700In the early 1700’’s, two women,Marie s, two women,Marie Camargo and Marie Sallé,broke Camargo and Marie Sallé,broke tradition in the male-dominated tradition in the male-dominated field. field. 

Camargo shortened her skirt to show Camargo shortened her skirt to show off her technique.  She was known off her technique.  She was known for her aerial work.for her aerial work.

The Golden Age of Romanticism The Golden Age of Romanticism Early-Mid 1800Early-Mid 1800’’ss  

Romanticism was a movement involving all the arts, Romanticism was a movement involving all the arts, which rebelled against narrow ideas of morality and which rebelled against narrow ideas of morality and old artistic formsold artistic forms

Two examples of famous romantic ballets are Two examples of famous romantic ballets are Les Les Sylphides Sylphides and and GiselleGiselle. . GiselleGiselle was choreographed in was choreographed in 1841 by Jules Perot and Jean Coralli to music by 1841 by Jules Perot and Jean Coralli to music by Adolphe Adam. This ballet is still performed Adolphe Adam. This ballet is still performed extensively today. extensively today.

Romantics often dealt with longing for the unattainable Romantics often dealt with longing for the unattainable

In GiselleIn Giselle a young peasant woman falls in love with a a young peasant woman falls in love with a man whom she can never marry, and she dies of a man whom she can never marry, and she dies of a broken heart. broken heart.

In La Sylphide, a tragic fantasy-romance, a In La Sylphide, a tragic fantasy-romance, a husband-to-be is entranced on the night before his husband-to-be is entranced on the night before his wedding by a "Sylphide," or forest fairy. He falls in wedding by a "Sylphide," or forest fairy. He falls in love with the creature, but tragedy strikes when love with the creature, but tragedy strikes when James places on the Sylphide's shoulders a scarf James places on the Sylphide's shoulders a scarf cursed by Madge, the forest witch. The Sylphide's cursed by Madge, the forest witch. The Sylphide's wings fall off, and she dies.wings fall off, and she dies.

Characteristics of Romantic balletCharacteristics of Romantic ballet: : 

-Dancing en pointe -Dancing en pointe -First tutus created -First tutus created 

-Women became dominant -Women became dominant -Sylphs and fairies; supernatural -Sylphs and fairies; supernatural 

-Ill-fated love -Ill-fated love   

Dancing En PointeDancing En Pointe  

Toe dancing, or dancing en pointe, was Toe dancing, or dancing en pointe, was invented during the romantic era invented during the romantic era

Today, toe shoes are made with reinforced Today, toe shoes are made with reinforced toe boxes that are stiff toe boxes that are stiff

In the 1800In the 1800’’s, ballerinas wore soft slippers s, ballerinas wore soft slippers without support, but still managed to without support, but still managed to dance en pointe, due to their training dance en pointe, due to their training

Marie Taglioni is the most famous pointe Marie Taglioni is the most famous pointe dancer of the era; her style was light and dancer of the era; her style was light and airy airy

The Classical Period of The Classical Period of Ballet, late 1800Ballet, late 1800’’ss

After the Romantic ballet era, the next major After the Romantic ballet era, the next major development in ballet occurred in Russia. development in ballet occurred in Russia.

-Marius Petipa, Frenchman, arrived in St. Petersburg in -Marius Petipa, Frenchman, arrived in St. Petersburg in 1847 as a dancer, and eventually headed the Imperial 1847 as a dancer, and eventually headed the Imperial Russian BalletRussian Ballet

-Choreographed many ballets with fairy-tale plots using -Choreographed many ballets with fairy-tale plots using panto-panto-

    mime and special effectsmime and special effects

  -Emphasized symmetry and classical pas de deux-Emphasized symmetry and classical pas de deux

    -Most famous ballet is -Most famous ballet is Swan LakeSwan Lake, 1890, , 1890, to music by Tchaikovsky to music by Tchaikovsky

Characteristics of Classical balletCharacteristics of Classical ballet: : 

-Spectacular and realistic-Spectacular and realistic - performances lasted a full evening. - performances lasted a full evening.

-story was an excuse for exciting dancing, with -story was an excuse for exciting dancing, with the corps de ballet used as a decorative the corps de ballet used as a decorative

background, and the narrative told in formal background, and the narrative told in formal mime gestures. mime gestures.

-The ballerina always danced on pointe, more -The ballerina always danced on pointe, more demanding technical work was created; soloists demanding technical work was created; soloists

often added their own steps to show offoften added their own steps to show off