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.