Ballet has
been around for hundreds of years, dating back to the Renaissance in
France and Italy as court dances for celebratory occasions. But around the
1400s, as the dance became more detailed and complicated, formal codifying of
the dances was needed in order to maintain consistency. This led to the
appearance of Ballet Masters, who were highly respected male dance teachers,
choreographers, and dance makers.
King Louis
XIV played a large role in the advancement of dance, for he was not only a
strong supporter of the art, but also a performer. His famous nickname, “Sun
King,” was given to him after he danced as Apollo, the sun god, in Le Balle de
la Nuit (The Ballet of the Night.) In 1661 he established the world’s very first
ballet school called the Academie Royale de Danse (Roycal Academy of Dance). A
ballet master at the school by the name of Pierre Beauchamps is credited with
the creation of the five basic foot positions used in ballet. Another prominent
dancer of the time was Jean-Baptiste Lully, who began the Paris Opera Ballet.
Not only did he bring about the distribution of professional dancers from
courtiers, but he also began including women, for men at the time were the only ones
allowed to dance ballet.
What is
called, the pre-romantic period began in the early 1800s, when a majority of
the dance vocabulary used today was already created, and women’s skirts had just
been shortened to above the ankle. This time period was also
the beginning of pointe work, as Marie Taglioni, became considered the first
ballerina to dance en pointe.
1830 to
1870 was known as the Romantic period, as it referenced the distinct soft lines made by the body and arms. During this time, Taglioni performed in a romantic
ballet called La Sylphide, which was choreographed by her father, as she wore a
fitted bodice and bell shaped dress, which became the precursor of the classic
tutu. This period also marked a shift of attention, as pointe work advanced,
women began to overshadow men.
Preceding
the Romantic period came the Russian classical ballet. In the late
1800s, a choreographer by the name of Marius Petipa, and his colleague, Lev Ivanov,
allowed ballet to flourish in St. Petersburg. As dancers became more and more
skilled, Petipa began to create strenuous, full-length, classical ballets, which
always consisted of a pas de deux (slow dance with one male and one female),
followed by a solo for each of them, and a coda, which is a short finale. During
this time, women’s costumes became even shorter and the classical tutu gained
popularity, for it allowed dancers to move easily and the audience to see the
footwork of the dancers. Some famous examples of classical ballets during this
time are Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and the Nutcracker.
In 1909 Sergei
Diaghilev, an impresario (someone who produces ballets, operas, and concerts),
created the Ballet Russes in Paris. This famous company combined both Russian
and French influence and turned out some of ballet’s most influential
choreographers such as Enrico Checchetti, and George Balancine. Through the
company, dancers traveled all throughout Europe with innovative choreography,
costumes, and sets.
During the
20th century ballet thrived. In 1926 the Royal Ballet in England
opened, and in 1934, the formerly known Mariinsky Ballet in St. Petersburg,
Russia, was renamed the Kirov Ballet. To this day, the Kirov Ballet is still
known as one of the world’s greatest ballet companies, as it has produced some of
the greatest dancers and choreographers in ballet in history, including Anna
Pavlova and Mikhail Baryshnikov.
As ballet
spread past Europe and into America, it found it’s beginning in New York City
through the creation of the prominent Ballet Theatre, known today as the
American Ballet Theatre, and the renowned New York City Ballet.
From the
renaissance to today, ballet has captured the love and imagination of people
across the globe. Participating in the art, whether it be as a dancer, teacher,
choreographer, or patron, is to experience the history, culture, and passion
that comes with it. Whether you’re a fan of classical ballet, the more modern
interpretations of ballet, or both, I hope you continue to enjoy the art as
much as I do.
Bibliography:
Io. "The History of Ballet." THE HISTORY OF
BALLET (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
Photo bibliography:
- Louis XIV in Lully's Ballet De La Nuit (1653). N.d. History of Ballet. Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ballet>.
- Marie Taglioni in La Sylphide. N.d. La Sylphide. Web. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Sylphide>.
- Busby, Jess. Amber Scott as Odette in Swan Lake. N.d. Australian Ballet - Swan Lake- Melbourne. Web. <http://dancetabs.com/2012/09/australian-ballet-swan-lake-melbourne/>.
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