The Ballet Russes

1. The Ballet Russes

2. Sergei Diaghilev- 1872 to 1928
Russian
In 1906 he took a Russian visual art exhibition to Paris
followed by a Russian Ballet and Opera
founded Ballet Russes 1909-1929
Company director (not dancer/choreo/composer)
Organizer of performances—story
Wanted to bring together all of the arts
Used popular dancers, composers, artists for the ballets

3. Igor Stravinsky
Composed many ballets for Ballet Russes
Became well known because of “The Firebird”
“Rite of Spring” and “Petrushka” are most well known ballets
Musical style for Ballet Russes- Harsh and dissonant. Odd tempos that
changed mid piece. Broken up into abrupt sections. Emphasized important
parts of the ballets with loud aggressive sounds.

4. Michael Fokine 1880-1942
1st Choreographer for Ballet Russes
Russian
Member of Maryinsky Ballet- excellent dancer and performer
Joined Ballet Russes as a choreographer
1909-1912 his Ballets dominated
“Les Sylphides” 1909
restaged- most commonly the one we see now

5. Michael Fokine (cont.)
“Firebird” 1910
Based on Russian fairytale
“Petrouchka” 1911
A very dark and odd story
Read the plot outlines provided in “assignments”
folder
Fokine’s Style- dance should be expressive
Brought back the male dancer as the
central figure
Transition between classical Petipa and
Modern Ballet
Condensed story line—1 act ballets
Left company in 1912
Moved to US in 1919 founded a ballet school and
continued to choreo.

6. Vaslav Nijinsky
1890-1950
Russian –trained in Russia
Joined Ballet Russes as a dancer in 1909
Wowed audiences with his airtime
Became 2nd choreo. in 1912- 1917

7. Vaslav Nijinsky
(cont.)
DANCES
“L’Apres-midi d’un faune”/”Afternoon of a Faun”
Music composed by Claude Debussy
Controversial Choreography
Rejected conventional/traditional ballet
technique
Flexed feet/Flat profile
movements
Unusual costumes
Sexual overtones
Music-flowing and lush/Choreo. angular, and
turned in
Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring)
Music composed by Igor Stravinsky
About a prehistoric tribe and their rituals
Girl dances herself to death for the gods
Again, rejected conventional/traditional ballet technique
Unusual costumes

8. Leonide Massine 1896-1979
Russian- trained in Moscow
Joined Ballet Russes as a dancer in 1913
Choreographer from 1917-1921 (3rd choreographer in Ballet Russes)
Style- witty with quirky movements and gestures
“Parade” 1917
worked with Picasso on the set design
“La Boutique Fantasque” 1919
About dolls coming to life

9. Bronislava Nijinska 1891-1972
4th choreographer for Ballet Russes
Sister of Nijinsky
Studied Ballet in St. petersberg and joined Maryinsky Theater in 1908
Joined Ballet Russes as dancer in 1910
Became choreographer in 1923-1924
“ Les Noces” or “The Wedding
combines more traditional ballet elements AND her brother’s influence
about the restrictive nature of marriage for women at this time

10. End of Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes
George Balanchine is 5th (and final) choreographer for Ballet Russes
(we will discuss him later)
Ended in 1929 due to Diaghilev's death
too much debt for the company to continue without him
In 1931 Wassily de Basil (a Russian entrepreneur living in Paris) revived the company
Brought back Massine Balanchine, and Nijinska