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Russian Imperial School of Ballet
On this date, in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Russian School of Theatrical Dance was founded. It hosted many famous choreographers and created many famous ballerinas. -
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Sergei Diaghilev
The original creator and founder of the Ballet Russe, Diaghilev was responsible for many of the modern twists that ballet has today, compared to the previous classical take on dance. -
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Michel Fokine
Choreographer of Les Sylphides, Petrouchka, and Firebird, which were very famous and made him extremely popular. -
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Wassily de Basil
He was one of the founders of the Ballet ruse de Monte Carlo and was notorious for his stubbornness and inability to work with others. Responsible for the split of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. -
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Vaslav Nijinsky
Choreographed Le Apres-mid-d un faune (Afternoon of the Fawn) and The Rite of Spring, which became very famous and allowed him to become a well known choreographer, teacher, and dancer. -
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Leonide Massine
Choreographed The Red Shoes, a major piece that brought dance to films. He was the head master and owner of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, as well as a dancer himself. He helped bring male dancers back to the forefront of ballet as well as spreading new and modern ideas about dance. -
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George Balanchine
Founder of the New York City Ballet and first ballet master of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo before he was replaced by Leonide Massine. -
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Agnes de Mille
The Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo took a chance and hired Agnes de Mille, their fist American choreographer. And so began the beginning of “true American ballet” with the premier of "Rodeo," which became extremely successful. -
Performance of Le Pavillion d' Armide
This ballet was presented for the first time in front of a Paris audience by the Ballet Russe. It was choreographed by Michel Fokine and starred Vera Karalli,Mikhail Mordkin, and Nijinsky. -
Premier of Two of Michel Fokine's Ballets
This date was the premiere of the one-act ballet, Papillons, choreographed by Fokine. It was also the premiere of another of Fokine’s one-act ballets, La Légende de Joseph. -
Premier of The Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo's First American Tour
The Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo opened their first American tour in 1916 in New York with The Firebird, La Princesse Enchantée, Le Soleil de Nuit and Schéhérezade. The American public had never seen Russian ballet before. After that performance, they toured sixteen towns, dancing in a different place each evening. -
Sergei Diaghilev's Death
The death of the creator of the Ballet Russe caused problems for the dancers in his company. The company dissolved, and the dancers dispersed, spreading his modern ideas. -
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo founded
Rene Blum and Wassily de Basil revived Diaghilev's Ballet Russe. -
World War 2 Begins
On this date, Britain and France declare war on Germany. Panic struck, and most Russians were not able to leave the country. The Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo and the Original Ballet Russe were both able to travel to America. Both companies traveled on the same boat. -
Premiere of Rodeo
Rodeo was a ballet choreographed by Agnes de Mille. It was first performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City by the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo. -
Founding of The New York City Ballet
Founded by George Balanchine, the New York City Ballet has continued to produce amazing and surprising ballets with modern ideas and twists since its founding in 1948.
