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Russian Imperial School of Ballet
The Russian School of Theatrical Dance is founded and becomes known as the Imperial Theater. -
Period: to
Romantic Ballets Emerge
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Romantic Ballet Develops
The Romantic era of ballet developed during the 19th century. Romanticism was characterized by a passionate striving to discover meaning in human events. It began the interest in supernatural, spiritual creatures, and mythical places. -
La Sylphide
La Sylphide is considered one of the first "White Ballets, or Ballet Blanc," in that, it influenced the fashion style of ballet. This ballet was choreographed by Phillipe Taglioni and performed by his daughter Marie Taglioni. -
Giselle
Giselle was choreographed by Jean Coralli, but Jules Perrot was responsible for the choreography of the role Giselle, and it was danced by Carlotta Grisi. -
Pas de Quatre
The four famous ballerinas of this time period were Marie Taglioni, Carlotta Grisi, Lucile Grahn, and Fanny Cerito. Jules Perrot choreographed "Pas de Quatre" on the four ladies using each of their strengths within his choreography. The girls performed in order of age with the oldest going last. -
Period: to
Russian Ballet Transforms Into Classical Ballet
Russian romantic ballets transform into a classical style.
The female ballerina is at the forefront of the stage. The focus is on her. The technique and skill required increases dramatically. -
Marius Petipa
He became the ballet master of the Imperial Theater. He choreographed over 50 ballets, including Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and the Nutcracker.
He worked with composer Pytor Tchaikovsky and choreographer Lev Ivanov. -
Coppelia
Arthur Saint-Léon choreographed Coppélia. -
Classical Ballet Develops
Classical ballet told stories through ballet, character dance, and pantomime. The climax is the grand pas de deus. Its sections are adagio, male solo, female solo, and coda. -
The Sleeping Beauty
This ballet was choreographed by Marius Petipa. -
The Nutcracker
This was another one of Petipa's works. -
Swan Lake
Swan Lake was choreographed by Marius Petipa. -
Diaghilev dies
His dancers are left without work. -
Resurrection begins
Rene Blum and Wasily de Basil essentially restart the company and name it Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo. Critics declared the company an "authentic heir" to the Diaghilev's company.
Balanchine is Dance Master and suggests a new idea to use "baby ballerinas". He chooses Toumanova, Riabouchinska, and Boranova. -
Leonide Massine replaces Balanchine
He introduces the symphonic orchestra to ballet and stronger leads for male dancers. -
Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo ---> America
Sol Hurok, the impresario and most powerful theatrical promoter in the United States, books their first American Tour.
They hired American dancers and made their names sound Russian. -
Blum leaves partnership with Basil
He starts his own company and won rights to the old name, Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo. Basil names his company The Original Ballet Russe. The two argued over dancers, making every dancer pick between the companies.
Massine stays with Blum, so Basil hires David Lichine. The two choreographers become rivals and try to steal dancers from each other.
Both companies start their season in London. -
Ready to Make Debut
Both companies make their debuts in London. Massine had to create 3 new ballets because he lost all the rights to his choreography. The public went to see both companies. -
Tours!
Blum chooses to invite Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo to America for a tour.
Basil takes his company to Australia. -
Back in London
Both companies were back in London. -
War is Declared
Both companies escape to America.
Massine has his company perform the evening they arrive in America. -
Stranded in America
Sol Hurok takes both companies on tours by trains to small American cities that had never seen ballet before. -
Hurok vs. Basil
Huron cuts ties with Basil and publicly declares him as on of the most difficult people he's had to work with. Basil then sets up a tour in Latin America for his company, The Original Ballet Russe. -
Hollywood
Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo danced for films in Hollywood. Massine's work began to flop with his new love for money and attention. -
Agnes de Mille
Agnes de Mille took Massine's place as choreographer for Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo, producing "true American ballet". She choreographed "Rodeo". -
Broadway and Balanchine
Ballets crosses into Broadway with Balanchine as a choreographer. He reunites with the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo again after 12 years. -
The End of Basil's Company
Dancers of Basil's company were exhausted from repercussions of the war yet tried to book an American tour with Hurok. The tour was a failure, so dancers broke away from the company. Basil tried to hire new dancers, but they were not at all qualified. The company had its last performance in November 1948.
