La Bayadere (1800's)
Cinderella (1900's)
- Considered by some to be the best choreography ever done by Petipa, “La Bayader” was originally performed in the late 1800’s in Russia.
- Recreating a classic love triangle scene, this famous ballet follows the love and jealousy expressed by multiple parties, quickly followed by anger and death because of the jealousy.
- Despite the wide variations now present in our world, the original was performed in the mid 1900’s in Russia’s capital, Moscow.
- Since then, it has only increased in popularity and is worth seeing in the story’s most unique format a ballet.
Don Quixote
Giselle (Mid 1800's)
America
France
Natalia Osipova
- This famous ballet is known as Petipa’s best choreographed work, especially the wedding dance of the lovers Kitri and Basilio.
- Originating out of Moscow, the ballet “Don Quixote”, which is directly based on Cervantes’ novel, follows Don Quixote on his incredible adventures as he attempts to become a knight himself by battling evil and doing good for those he meets.
- Here in America, ballet grew in popularity during the 1930's when several of Diaghilev's dancers left his company to work with and settle in the U.S.
- George Balanchine is one of the best known artists who firmly established ballet in America by founding the New York City Ballet.
- The ballet continues to show a young girl, Giselle, is tricked into falling in love with a nobleman who is already betrothed to another.
- Despite her weak heart, Giselle desires to dance for joy with the love she feels, only later to be found distraught and dying of a broken heart because of the nobleman’s trickery.
- The official terminology and vocabulary of ballet was gradually codified in French over the next 100 years, and during the reign of Louis XIV, the king himself performed many of the popular dances of the time.
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- Is a multi-award winning ballerina who began dancing at the age of five.
- She is also a guest dancer with a number of prestigious companies including the American Ballet Theatre.
- . Known for her flying leaps, which achieve astonishing height thanks to a natural lightness of form, Osipova’s repertoire includes the lead roles in Romeo and Juliet, Coppelia, Swan Lake and Giselle.
- She has won the award for Best Female Dancer three times, more than any other female star, most recently in 2013.
- She was bor in Moscow and trained by Mikhail Lavrovsky since she was little.
A Midsummer’s Night Dream (1960's)
- Originally, Felix Mendelssohn wrote the music for the play adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, which has been proved to be one of the most popular and famous ballets in the world.
- In the 1960's Balanchine presented the ballet production of the play, which used Mendelssohn’s music but with several additions to create a wholly choreographed ballet.
- Louis himself stopped dancing in 1670, and his courtiers followed his example. By then the court ballet was already giving way to professional dancing.
- In 1661, Louis founded the Académie Royale de Danse, now the Paris Opera Ballet, to train professional dancers for his court.
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Russia
Sleeping Beauty
- In 1850 Russia had become a leading creative center of the dance world, and as ballet continued to evolve.
- In the early twentieth century, the Russian theatre producer Serge Diaghilev brought together some of that country's most talented dancers, choreographers, composers, singers and designers to form a group called the Ballet Russes.
Romeo and Juliet (1900's)
- The music and performances quickly changed critics’ views, leading to it being performed approximately fifty times within three years of its initial debut.
- The ballet itself tells the story of baby princess Aurora being christened, but only to be cursed and die the day she turns eighteen.
- Because of the outbreak of World War I, War brought Russian artists into America, where they began to teach privately or perform on tours.
- Sergei Diaghilev's Ballet Russes toured America in 1916, (Kansas, the West Coast, Canada, Texas and Oklahoma), 1930 and 1940.
Italy
- Beginning the journey of creating ballets for Shakespearian plays, this ballet follows the tale of two doomed lovers who were meant to be but sadly never would.
- The beauty of this ballet cannot easily be expressed in words and must be seen to be believed.
Misty Copeland
http://www.enkivillage.com/famous-ballets.html
http://www.biography.com/people/misty-copeland
http://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/articles/the-9-best-female-ballet-dancers-celebrated-by-the-national-dance-awards/
- Began during the Renaissance around the year 1500 in Italy.
- The terms "ballet" and "ball" as in masked ball, come from the Italian ballare, to dance.
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- The first African-American performer to be appointed as a principal dancer for American Ballet Theatre.
- Born on September 10, 1982 in Kansas City, Missouri.
- joined the studio company of American Ballet Theatre in 2000, becoming a soloist several years later and starring in an array of productions such as The Nutcracker and Firebird.
- She joined ABT’s studio company in September 2000
- The ballerina has also become a tour de force in the literary world, publishing two works in 2014
- At first, the dancers wore masks, layers upon layers of brocaded costuming, pantaloons, large headdresses and ornaments.
- Dance steps were composed of small hops, slides, curtsies, promenades and gentle turns.
- Dancing en pointe (on toe) became popular during the early part of the nineteenth century, with women often performing in white, bell-like skirts that ended at the calf.
The Nutcracker
Swan Lake (1800's)
http://www.atlantaballet.com/resources/brief-history-of-ballet
http://la-danse-classique1.blogspot.com/2010/09/brief-history-of-french-ballet.html
http://balletshoesandbobbypins.com/ballet-in-america-5-facts
Peter Pan
- Its story follows a young prince who sees a beautiful swan, which soon turns into a woman, Odette.
- A true tale of the power of love, the music follows the prince as he attempts to rescue and then marries the princess Odette.
- Written as one of Pyotr Tchaikovsky's last ballets yet during the height of classical ballet music, “The Nutcracker” has now become a staple during the Christmas holidays.
- The ballet follows a young girl and her journey with a nutcracker from Christmas eve to Christmas morning, showing how she experiences the magic of the Christmas season.
- A simple retelling of J.M. Barrie’s story, this relatively new ballet is just as colorful and innovative as the story it tells.
- While it is not choreographed traditionally as many famous ballets are these days, this ballet allows directors and ballerinas alike to become a little more creative.
Ballet Timeline
BY: Milena Adams