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1581
Birth of Ballet
Although ballet started in 15th century Italy, Ballet comique de la reine by choreographer, Balthasar de Beaujoyeulx in France started a trend of court ballets, reaching its peak with King Louis XIV
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Introduction of the Proscenium: The First Proscenium stage is created
The First Proscenium was installed in the Farnese theatre in Italy. It (also included a stage curtain) was used to add a fourth wall for the audience to view through, and to provide a spectacle atmosphere for the audience. It is seen on almost every theatre, four hundred years later. https://www.britannica.com/art/proscenium -
The Paris Opera: Founding of the Paris Opera
King Louis XIV founded the Académie royale de Danse (Later opening the Paris Opera) to train Dancers in the art and choreograph dance for performance. This was the first organized opera of its kind and influenced learning to dance in this nature throughout the dance world. The Paris Opera became home to lots of art and not just dance, like music. It is still considered one of the most Iconic dance Operas to this day. https://www.operadeparis.fr/en/artists/discover/the-paris-opera/history -
King Louis XIV: Opening of the Académie Royale de Danse
King Louis XIV was the king of France at the time ballet was first getting its start. Louis was also a dancer, starting his career as a kid and having his best career moment as a teenager.His admiration for the art form helped it grow and become more organized throughout the years. He established the first ballet school in history, formalizing the art form. http://www.the-ballet.com/louisxiv.php -
The Imperial Russian Ballet Established
The Imperial Russian Ballet was a dance company from St. Petersburg. This company was well known for its precision of technique in teaching, even after losing forty percent of its members. This company also aided in the refinement and expansion of ballet as it is one of the first ballet companies. https://dancersforum.com/imperial-russian-ballet -
Charles Didelot: Debut Performance
Charles Didelot, a French dancer, influenced the beginning of Romantic Ballet with choreography later in his life. His debut as a dancer was at the Paris Opera with Madeleine Guimard, after which he turned to choreography. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Didelot -
Marie Taglioni: Premiere of La Sylphide
Marie Taglioni was an influencer of en pointe dance with her weightlessness and strength displayed on pointe shoes instead of the common single tricks displayed. Her hunchback and extreme workouts from her father made pointe a legitimate aspect of dance. This style was first seen in La Sylphide. https://www.dance-teacher.com/marie-taglioni-2-2392605960.html -
Marius Pepita: "La Bayadère" premiers
Marius Pepita, a frewnch dancer and choreographer left behind one of the greatest legacies of classical ballet. He continued to have rivalries and always wanted more, pushing him as a creator. He is well known for his choreography of La Bayadère, with the help of Minkus. This ballet and many others like it dominate the classical ballet stage across the world still today. https://petipasociety.com/about/ -
Pyotr IIyich Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake premiers
Pyotr ILyich Tchaikovsky is considered the most well known Russian composer of all time.He has worked as a composer in many different ways including symphonies, overtures, piano and violin concertos, ballets, and many more. His famous trilogy of ballets started with his composition of Swan Lake. Although it was not an immediate success, it historically became a major influence in the dance world. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pyotr-Ilyich-Tchaikovsky -
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The Age of Vaudeville
Vaudeville, an entertainment system across the U.S. was the largest form of entertainment during this time period. Acts of comedians, dancers, singers musicians, and basically all types of performers you can think of could be found in a vaudeville show. It popularized many influential dancers, and had a largely diverse cultural impact at the turn of the century. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/vaudeville-about-vaudeville/721/ -
Isadora Duncan: Debut in Budapest
Isadora Duncan was an American dancer known as "The Mother of Modern Dance". Her debut was a huge success, as it was her first time performing her own choreography. http://isadoraduncan.org/foundation/isadora-duncan/ -
Anna Pavlova: Breakout role in "The Dying Swan"
Anna Pavlova, a Russian prima ballerina and choreographer was well known for her lead solo role in "The Dying Swan" by Michael Fokine. She showed delicate movements, yet intense facial expressions that told a story and showcased detail in dance that influenced dance teaching and schools, and the companies in her honor. https://www.biography.com/performer/anna-pavlova https://www.ecosia.org/images?q=Anna+Pavlova&license=modifyCommercially#id=0CF26CA1919407E77C75AB27D98F89764797DA9E -
Michael Fokine: "Acis et Galatée" is created
Michael Fokine was a Russian dancer and choreographer with a temper. Acis et Galatée was his first ballet, in which he showcased his style of love for antiquity in dance and stubborn attitude. He worked with dancers of opposite tendencies but controlled the style. He could memorize an entire score and had incredible speed while choreographing. He acted as a branch between dance icons and aided in some of the most historic dance moments. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michel-Fokine -
Ruth St. Denis: Premier of "Radha"
Ruth St. Denis, an american contemporary dance innovator, cofounder of Denishawn Dance Company, and female influencer of American dance was important to dance in the U.S. in the start of the 20th century. Her first dance work, "Radha" was the beginning of her contribution to religion and dance in the U.S. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ruth-St-Denis -
Ziegfeld Follies
Florenz Ziegfeld, creator of the Follies changed broadway forever by introducing a sophisticated spectacle of dancers and chorus line singer, trying to get their big break. It became more than just a performance on the stage, as many dancers became superstars after performing in the Ziegfeld Follies. http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/ziegfeld-follies/ -
Vaslav Nijinsky: "La Source" premiers
Vaslav Nijinsky was a very famous Russian ballet dancer and choreographer known for his leaping ability and ability to become a character in a piece he was in. He was a lead dancer in most companies he joined. His first dance for the Maryiinski theatre as a soloist was in "La Source" with Julia Sedova, which became a hit immediately. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vaslav-Nijinsky -
Serge Diaghilev: "Petrushka" is Composed
Serge Diaghilev, an influential and unconventional choreographer used other arts to influence his ballet. In Petrushka, he used a concerto Stravinsky was working on to create a mime ballet. He influenced his collaborators with his innate taste in movement, and had influence on the development and change in ballet. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Serge-Pavlovich-Diaghilev -
Vernon and Irene Castle: Publication of "Modern Dance"
Vernon and Irene Castle were American dance partners. They Married in 1911 and became a famous duo worldwide, with their popularization of many dances like the glide, tango, castle walk, hesitation waltz etc. and the creation of their book, "Modern Dance". They also created their own dances, like the one-step and turkey trot. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vernon-and-Irene-Castle -
Leonide Massine: "Le Soleil de nuit" is choreographed
Leonide Massine was a Russian Dancer and choreographer, known for mixing folk dance with technical-character dance. He also brought a new found complexity of movement to the Corps de Ballet. His first choreography, feeling encouraged heavily by Diaghilev, Massine choreographed Le Soleil de nuit and followed it by even more masterful works. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leonide-Massine -
Founding of Denishawn school of Dance
The founding of Denishawn in LA brought a variety of dance techniques to the surface if the dance world because of St. Denis and Shawn's belief that all dance is instructive, not just ballet. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Denishawn-School-of-Dancing-and-Related-Arts http://www.library.ufl.edu/spec/manuscript/guides/denishawn.htm -
Enrico Cecchetti: Publication of "The Manual of Theory and Practice of Classical Theatrical Dancing" (Cecchetti Method)
Enrico Cecchetti, the father of a new very large style of dance was a choreographer and dancer from Italy. With training from the greatest dancers of the time, all students of Blasis, Cecchetti went on to travel the world teaching dance, while creating his own style in the book The Manual of Theory and Practice of Classical Theatrical Dancing published by Cyril Beaumont with the help of Cecchetti himself and idzikowski. http://cecchettiusa.org/about/who-was-enrico-cecchetti/ -
Martha Graham: Founding of thee Martha Graham Dance Company
Martha Graham was a dancer and chroeographer, well known for her creation of a technique involving stretching and contracting. She was able to force more emotion into dance experimenting with this technique and encorporating greek mythology, and religious Native American ceremonies. This experimental stage began with the development of her dance company that she worked and lived out of. http://www.marthagraham.org/history/ -
Florenz Ziegfeld: Opening of Ziegfeld Theatre
Florenz Ziegfeld was broadway musical producer of many hit productions. He also brought European stars to the U.S. for the first time. He is well known for The Ziegfeld Follies and his work with Anna Held, along with opening his own theatre . https://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/stars/florenz-ziegfeld/ -
Bill (Bojangles) Robinson: "Blackbirds" premiers
Bojangles Robinson was a legendary African-American tap dancer. He brought more of a swing to the former, flat tao dancing style. "Blackbirds", showcasing African American dancers, was quite successful and establish his happy attitude as a dancer. https://www.biography.com/performer/bill-bojangles-robinson -
Doris Humphrey: Formation of the Humphrey-Weidman group
Doris Humphrey, dancer and choreographer, forms the Humphrey-Weidman group after leaving Denishawn because of the superficial dances. Doris influenced dance by expressing human interaction and deeper, more modern concepts through her art. http://www.dorishumphrey.org/the-early-years/
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Ginger Rodgers: Debut of "Young Man of Manhattan"
Ginger Rodgers was an american actress and dancer, known for movie musicals. She was an effortless dancer and started her career as a dancer and actress at a young age. In her movie debut of "Young Man of Manhattan" she created a catchphrase of "Cigarette me, big boy". https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ginger-Rogers -
Fred Astaire: "Flying Down to Rio" premiers
Fred Astaire was an American musical comedy film dancer and actor, and is regarded as one of the greatest of all time. Despite receiving bad reviews from multiple people, he continued to work and eventually became a bug star, stealing the spotlight from Delores Del Rio along with Ginger Rogers in "Flying Down to Rio". https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fred-Astaire -
Charles Weidman: "Candide" premiers
Charles Weidman was an American modern dance innovator, known for pantomiming and his work in satire. Although his version of "Candide" was not considered a successful peice, it still was the first to feature pantomiming in a formal dance structure. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Weidman -
Busby Berkeley: Joins Warner Bros
Busby Berkeley was an American movie director and choreographer, well known for the commotion he created using lots of dancers and creative camera angles. His best pieces were created after he started working for Warner Bros, where he revolutionized the genre of musical. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Busby-Berkeley -
Ted Shawn: Start of his all male dance group
Ted Shawn was an American modern dance choreographer. He was well known for his work in modern dance along with his long time partner in marriage and dance Ruth St. Denis. After Shawn and Denis split, Shawn went on to create an all male group of dancers who he choreographed for, using influence from Native American dance, folk dance and popular dances at the time as influence. This attracted more male dancers into this field.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ted-Shawn -
Lincoln Kirstein: Opening of the School of American Ballet
Lincoln Kirstein, a dance teacher, writer, opens a very influential dance company with the help of George Balanchine that broadens American Ballet across the world. https://www.lincolnkirstein.org/Chronology.html#Posthumous -
Harold Christensen: "The Great Waltz" premiers
Harold Christensen, one of the Christensen brothers. He is well known for opening the San Francisco Ballet after the Opera was having a hard time staying financially stable. After working in Vaudeville, he traveled to New York with his brother Lew to start a film career, and appeared in "The Great Waltz" while also taking classes at The American School of Ballet. http://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=THE_CHRISTENSEN_BROTHERS_AND_THE_SAN_FRANCISCO_BALLET -
William Christensen: The San Francisco ballet company is created
William Christensen, an American dancer, choreographer, and teacher created the San Francisco Ballet company along with his brothers. This influential company was the first to bring The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and other timeless classic ballets to the United States. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Willam-Christensen -
Helen Tamiris: "How Long Brethren" premiers
Helen Tamiris, an American modern dancer and choreographer was well known for being the first to including jazz and African spirituals into her modern dance work. Her choreography of How Long Brethren showcased unemployed southern blacks to a song by an all African American Chorus. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Helen-Tamiris -
Agnes DeMille: Return to the U.S.
Agnes DeMille, a dancer and choreographer, returns to the U.S. This jumpstarts her career as a choreographer, as she choreographs all over the U.S. making hits and American History. Semi - self taught, she did not worry about money, and focused more on the art. She became a cultural icon in dance and in general in the country with her later endeavours. http://www.agnesdemilledances.com/biography.html -
Anthony Tudor: Invited to join ABT
Anthony Tudor, dancer and choreographer, was a huge influencer of ABT, as since his first season with the company, he has been represented every season. He is a giant in choreography, and important to ballet in the U.S. https://www.abt.org/people/antony-tudor/ -
George Balanchine: American Ballet Caravan begins tour
George Balanchine is one of the most well known choreographers in dance history. His contribution to dance in the U.S. was tremendous. With the help of Lincoln Kirstein, the pair form the American Ballet Caravan that tours South America for 5 months. http://balanchine.com/george-balanchine/ -
Alwin Nikolais: Induction into the Army
Alwin Nikolais, an American choreographer, composer, designer and teacher was well known for his imaginative use of stage props and lighting, as well as costume design and visual masterpieces. "Nik" was inducted into the army during World War II, and when he returned, he used his experience in more dance choreography, setting him apart from the rest of the choreographers like him, giving the characters and environment of equal importance. https://www.kennedy-center.org/Artist/A3780 -
Katherine Dunham: Opening of first Dunham School
Katherine Dunham, and African- american dancer, anthropologist, and choreographer opens her first school after creating the Dunham technique from the roots of black dance. http://kdcah.org/katherine-dunham-biography/ -
Jose Limon: Creation of the Limon Dance Company
Created by Jose Limon, a dancer, choreographer, and modern dancer influencer born in Mexico and immigrated to the U.S., and Doris Humphrey, a dancer and choreographer as well, the Limon Dance company is rated highly for its dramatic expression, expansive style and timelessness, and its impact on modern dance. Jose Limon is responsible for a lot of growth of modern dance in the U.S. and is a role model for latinos in the U.S. http://limon.org/about-us/foundation/ -
Lester Horton:Opening of the Lester Horton Dance Theatre
Lester Horton, an American choreographer, was influential in modern dance. He used Native American and other anatomical movements to create new modern dance techniques. The Lester Horton Dance Theatre was the first of its kind to use modern dance permanently. He was also an advocate for racial integration in the U.S. https://www.alvinailey.org/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater/lester-horton -
Michael Kidd: "FInian's Rainbow" Premiers
Michael Kidd, an American choreographer and five time tony winner was well known for his acrobatic style of choreography. He won his first tony in 1947 with "FInian's Rainbow". https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Kidd -
Vaganova Method: "Basic Principles of Russian Classical Dance" published
The Vaganova method, created by Agrippina Vaganova is a ballet technique still used today. Her book "Basic Principles of Russian Classical Dance" showcased her training methods in writing t=for the first time. http://ibtacademy.org/content/Vaganova-at-IBT -
Luigi (Eugene Louis Facciuto): Beginning of Jazz classes
Luigi is considered the father of jazz dance with his elegant and firey style. Involved in a paralyzing accident, it was said he would never dance again. When he was well enough to move again, he developed opposition. Luigi would stretch his body in certain ways to remain upright. All components of the body went into every movement. He created a whole new genre of dance due to an injury he received, and made the best of a tragic accident. http://www.offjazz.com/luigi/luigi.htm -
Jack Cole: "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" premiers
Jack Cole, a theatrical jazz dance innovator, and basically the inventor of American Jazz dance we see today was a very influential figure. He took influence from East India, The Caribbean, Cecchetti style ballet. and the Lindy Hop to create American Jazz. His collaboration with Marilyn Monroe in "Gentlemen prefer Blondes" started a collaboration between the two and popularized his style of choreography on television. https://www.dance-teacher.com/history-lesson-plan-jack-cole-2392429308.html -
Merce Cunningham: Opening of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company
Merce Cunningham was a well known American choreographer, teacher, film producer, and innovator, known for innovating and expanding the art of dance and the surrounding pieces of dance, like music and contemporary art. He even has created a technique. The opening of his own dance company pushed many boundaries of dance, and culture. https://www.mercecunningham.org/about/merce-cunningham/ -
Matt Mattox: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Premiers
Matt Mattox, a dancer, choreographer, and jazz dance influencer was well known for performing technical ballet choreography in dangerous stunts in the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. This popularized him as a dancer, and lead to Jack Cole influencing him to focus on jazz. Mattox created a jazz technique and vocabulary still used today. https://www.danceadvantage.net/matt-mattox/ -
Bob Fosse: "The Pajama Game" is choreographed
Bob Fosse, an American choreographer and dancer revolutionized musicals in the U.S. His staging and incorporation of style made him well known throughout television, Broadway, and motion pictures. He received his first Tony with "The Pajama Game". https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Fosse -
Robert Joffrey: Founding of the Joffrey Ballet
Robert Joffrey was an american teacher and choreographer. He discovered and introduced many now well-known modern dance choreographers. He created the Joffrey Ballet, which is well known for being one of the largest international companies with original work and re-worked classics. http://www.joffrey.org/people/robert-joffrey -
Jerome Robbins: West Side Story created
Jerome Robbins, a dance choreographer as well as a movie director and choreographer, is influential for his wide range of stylistic dance choreography. His play, West Side Story was considered the first concept musicals, never seen before on broadway. He even directed the movie following the play in '61. http://jeromerobbins.org/a-biography-in-brief/ -
Paul Taylor: "Duet" is Choreographed
Paul Taylor, American dancer and choreographer was very influential. His choreography set him apart from most everyone else. He was humorous and avant-garde. An important example is Duet, in which he and his partner do not move for a total of four minutes. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paul-Taylor-choreographer -
Alvin Ailey: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Established
Alvin Ailey, an American dancer and choreographer, was well known for his contribution to the discovery of many great dancers of diverse backgrounds, and the start of some of the best choreography and establishments in dance. When Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre was established, it started with eight black dancers and expanded very quickly. https://www.notablebiographies.com/A-An/Ailey-Alvin.html -
Rebekah Harkness: Founding of Harkness Ballet
Rebekah Harkness, a wealthy and avid dance enthusiast, is known for her support of dance endeavors and medicine. Along with creating of harkness ballet, she also created the Harkness ballet foundation, Harkness Theatre and Harkness house. The harkness ballet is known for being an internationally traveling company. http://harknessfoundation.org/history/ -
Twyla Tharp: Formation of Twyla Tharp Dance
Twyla Tharp, an american choreographer of over 160 works across the board is well known for her continual creation of art in many forms. She has worked for a number of prestigious dance companies and people as she continues to make new art. Her creation of Twyla Tharp dance brings technique and street style together, mixing styles of jazz, ballet, boxing, and more. https://www.twylatharp.org/bio -
Gower Champion: "Three For Tonight" premiers
Gower Champion was a distinguished american choreographer and director in musical theatre, known for his influential choreography on the big screen and his many Tony awards, Gower Champion was a revolutionary director. "Three For Tonight" started his career as just director and choreographer and saw the beginning to his largest hits and biggest flops. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gower-champion-mn0001010254/biography -
Michael Bennet: "A Chorus Line" premiers
Michael Bennet, a choreographer, was very influential to Musical creation and dance. A Chorus Line was a critically acclaimed concept musical, which every aspect supported the theme, and had an intimate sense to it. He also developed the strategy of workshopping a musical to prepare it for a broadway run. https://www.dance-teacher.com/dance-history-michael-bennett-2466613855.html -
Eliot Feld: Formation of the New York City Public School for Dance (Ballet Tech)
Eliot Feld is an american dancer, choreographer and director. He is well known for his work on West Side Story, and joining the ABT Corps de Ballet. The Formation of Ballet Tech brought dance into the public school system of New York, expanding the dance community to those who were in the public school system. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eliot-Feld -
Loie Fuller: First presentation of "Serpentine Dance"
Loie Fuller's First presentation of "Serpentine Dance" in New York in 1982 was her first experiment with stage lighting, which she influenced heavily in dance using silhouettes and phosphorescent materials as accents to the dancing. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Loie-Fuller -
Natalia Makarova: Return to Russia
Natalia Makarova was a dancer from Leningrad. Her classical ballet training and spontaneous dancing style popularized her through her endeavors with ABT, The Royal Ballet etc. Her return to Russia to perform on the Kirov Stage was a historical moment as she was the first exiled artist to do so. https://www.kennedy-center.org/artist/A87852 -
Judith Jamison: Becomes artistic director of Alvin Ailey ADT
Judith Jamison, dancer, choreographer, and receiver of many prestigious awards like an Emmy, becomes artistic director of Alvin Ailey ADT after working with him on dances such as the influential "Cry". In her 21 years of work, she did a 50 city world tour for the 50th anniversary if the company and much more. https://www.alvinailey.org/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater/judith-jamison -
Gene Kelly stars in "Cover Girl"
Gene Kelly, dancer, actor, choreographer, and director innovates combined athletic dance and special effects to transform motion-picture musicals, and the perception of male dancers. Link text -
Mark Morris: Formation of MMDC
Mark Morris, an american choreographer and opera director, is considered one of the most successful and influential choreographers ever. Known for his amazing musicality, he expanded his repertoire quite easily with teaching at a number of colleges and receiving a number of awards. He is responsible for the Mark Morris dance center in New York, where he offers dance classes, and outreach programs to anyone who would like to dance. https://markmorrisdancegroup.org/ -
Donald McKayle: "Tantalus" is recorded
Donald McKayle, an African-American choreographer known for choreographing around the world has helped to grow and mould African American dance in the U.S. He is most well known for his 10 hour production of "Tantalus" with the help of the Royal Shakespeare Company. http://www.donaldmckayle.com/ -
Mikhail Baryshnikov: Founding of the Baryshnikov Arts Center
Mikhail Baryshnikov is a well known Russian born American ballet dancer choreographer, and director. He has worked with many influential organizations and people in the dance field. He was also well known for his work in motion pictures. He founded the Baryshnikov Arts Center as a creative space for multi-disciplinary artists in New York. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mikhail-Baryshnikov
