Ballet’s BeginningsBallet’s Beginnings
The word “ballet” is French with a Latin background
Origins in the Italian Renaissance courts
Provided entertainment at lavish weddings
Early ballets were participatory
“Ballet de cour” was introduced in the 16th century.
First ballet de cour, Ballet Comique de la Reine, lasted for over five hours.
Ballet Comique de la Ballet Comique de la ReineReine
Louis XIVLouis XIV
King Louis XIV loved dancing – used it to glorify himself and the throne
* Late 17th century – founded the Academie R Royale de Musique (The Paris Opera).
* First professional ballet company emerged.
(The Paris Opera Ballet)
* Dance eventually became an independent form form of art
Women in BalletWomen in Ballet
Women were not allowed to dance until 1681
Ankle-length, formal gowns were worn while dancing
The first standard ballet shoe for women was a heel
Mid-18th century – non-heeled shoes were first worn
Marie Camargo is credited with the innovations of: ballet slippers, the calf-length ballet skirt and ballet tights.
Evolution of DanceEvolution of Dance
Jazz often borrows from ballet techniques
Lyrical combines technical elements from classical ballet with the freedom and expressiveness of jazz
Acro fuses classical technique with acrobatic elements
En PointeEn Pointe
Marie Taglioni is rumored to be the first to dance en pointe
Pointe training should not happen until after age 11
Rigorous training is required to go en pointe
Extreme strength in the tendons is necessary
The modern pointe shoe design is often attributed to Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova
Modern DanceModern Dance
20th century – Invented by Isadora Duncan
An expression of rebellion against classical ballet
Free-flowing clothes, loose hair, bare feet
Natural movements
Extremely passionate: jumps, leaps, stretches.
GiselleGiselle
Heartbreaking, poetic tale of the love between a peasant girl named Giselle and Count named Albrecht
First presented at the Paris Opéra’s Salle Le Peletier in 1841
Oldest ballet in the active repertoire with a continuous performance history
Giselle is one of the most sought-after roles in ballet
CoppéliaCoppélia
The fable of a boy who falls in love with a beautiful doll named Coppélia and the chaos that ensues
Premiered in 1871; full of humor and ballet mime
Represents the halfway point between the misty poetry of Giselle and the classic splendor of Swan Lake
Introduced automatons, dolls, and marionettes to ballet
Swan LakeSwan Lake
Classic love story of a princess bewitched into swan form and a prince who attempts to break the spell
Tchaikovsky composed the piece as amusement for his niece and nephew
Performed in 1877; huge failure when previewed
Re-produced in 1895 after Tchaikovsky’s death and became a huge success.
More by TchaikovskyMore by Tchaikovsky
The Sleeping Beauty (1889)
The Nutcracker (1892)
1812 Overture
Famous French Famous French CompaniesCompanies
The Paris Opera Ballet (Paris)
Ballet National de Marseille (Marseille)
Ballet Biarritz (Biarritz)
Opéra National de Lyon (Lyon)
Centre Chorégraphique National
de Nantes (Nantes)
Renowned Renowned ConservatoriesConservatories
The Royal Ballet School (London, England)
French Academie of Ballet (New York)
The School of American Ballet (New York)
Joffrey Ballet School (New York)
“Ballet is not technique but a way of expression that comes more closely to the inner language of man than any other.” - George Borodin
ReferencesReferences
Homans, Jennifer. Apollo's Angels A History of Ballet. New York: Random House, 2010. Print.
Terry, Walter. The Ballet Companion A Popular Guide For the Ballet-Goer. Apollo ed. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1968. Print.
Robert, Grace. The Borzoi Book of Ballets. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1946. Print.
Guillot, Genevieve. The Book of Ballet. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1976. Print.
Volynsky, Akim. Ballet's Magic Kingdom. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008. Print.