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American Ballet Theatre:
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Step-By-Step Ballet Class







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BALLET

... the most beautiful art
Romeo and Juliet ballet at Paris Opera Garnier
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The Secret of Swan Lake's Magic


The premiere of Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake took place on January 15, 1895 on the stage of the Maryinsky (Mariinsky) Theatre in St. Petersburg. This event, a benefit for the ballerina Pierina Legnani, is considered a historical date in ballet. Never before had Russian ballet presented so clearly and definitely the shift between different cultural eras and artistic styles. In fact, before that moment ballet had rarely embodied the artistic thinking of the times, fusing tradition and innovation in its efforts. On that historic evening, this new development was expressed through the work of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. Their choreography combined clear ballet' romanticism and the emerging influence of symbolism, the French literary-artistic trend which gave Russia an unprecedented cultural impulse at the end of the 19th century.

This production of Swan Lake on January 15, 1895 (the ones of the 1870's and 1880's at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow were unsuccessful) presented a singular model for the development of ballet, followed for years to come. The path for the structure of symphonic dance, the idea for the directorial work in a theatrical production, the dramatic forms of the score for a ballet - all of these were thought out and brought forward on that day by the French Petipa and the Russian Ivanov, the two great architects of Russian ballet.

The historical importance of the ST. Petersburg premiere is to profound that all of Russian ballet until then can be considered preparation for the Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky, Petipa, Ivanov. What precedes it can be taken as an evolution of themes, images and ideas that lead towards the birth of this ballet. In fact, this work became one of the seminal influence in the entire development of ballet as an art form.

Swan Lake is a starting point, from which the art of that era received new impetus. Because the ballet echoes the art of its time, it found its place as one of man's greatest artistic creations.
The subject of the German tale, which had been given full play in the earlier Bolshoi version, was simplified by Petipa for the 1895 version. Tchaikovsky's music was shortened by one-third. (Riccardo Drigo, the well-known ballet composer, was engaged to re-assemble and orchestrate the score). In fact, Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov created a new ballet, with Petipa as choreographer-regisseur and Ivanov as the choreographer of the of the Second Act "Swan" scenes. Their choreographic ideas expressed drama as a theatrical art, and action as a part of dance. Petipa and Ivanov turned ballet into theatre, dance into action, and choreography into drama.

The symphonic principles of Tchaikovsky's ballet music were a great revelation to the ballet of the 19th century. (It must be remembered that the St. Petersburg premiere of Swan Lake, though it had been Tchaikovsky's first ballet composition, was presented after the successful productions of the Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker.) These symphonic principles helped to shape a new landscape and structure for the choreographic work.

In the choreography of the First and Third Acts, Petipa did not overstep the limits of the traditional "ballet-romantic" style. However, through his style of directing the whole work, he challenged his own classical understanding of ballet. Extraordinary for that time, Petipa achieved a fusion of precise dramatic action, logic of libretto, and dancing-acting.

Ivanov, who was entrusted with only the "White Act" (Act II), turned the "Swan Suite" into a symphony for the human spirit, revealing the inner world of the heroine. He endowed the traditional corps de ballet with the ideas of the musical-symphonic development, and personified the motifs of Odette's inner world in the swans.

Ivanov created the "space of the soul" on the shores of the dark bewitched waters. Petipa created a space for true cosmic subjects, where the boundaries are life and death, good and evil, love and faithlessness, faith and doubt, fate and destiny. Constructing a traditional romantic mythology within the framework of ballet production, Petipa and Ivanov gave it unheard-of scope in a universal philosophical parable. The importance of the simple fairy-tale story was elevated to the eternal land of myths.

Swan Lake, presented on January 15, 1895, was the "starry hour" of Russian ballet and represents its classical triumph. It became the model for the "black and white" contrasts, which each era re-works on its own terms. This classical motif has remained unchanged; the Petipa-Ivanov symphony of black and white' opposites relegated equal importance to the outside world and to the internal world of man. Because of this, the date of Swan lake's St. Petersburg premiere is immortalized in history.

Mikhail Baryshnikov: Dance Genius

Click here to go to Amazon One of the greatest dancers of the 20th century, Baryshnikov is revealed as a complex, somewhat solitary, and restless spirit whose personal life has been as complicated and volatile as his professional life. Glassman covers his subject's childhood, his emergence as a star in Leningrad's Kirov Ballet Company, his defection to the West, and his dazzling career with the American Ballet Theatre as well as other creative endeavors. Some of the behind-the-scenes jealousies, rivalries, and politics that occur in famous companies are exposed. The author also touches on Baryshnikov's often-tumultuous personal relationships. For those readers with some knowledge about well-known ballets, the information on how critics reviewed them or how Baryshnikov chose to interpret them provides unique insights into the world of dance.

The eternal art



Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet

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This book has served as an excellent resource for me in my ballet classes. I am a ballet teacher, even though it's not my strength. With this book, I was able to ensure I was instructing my girls accurately. This is a great dictionary of ballet terms. This a must-have to carry in your dance bag.





Staging 'the Nutcracker'


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Staging the Nutcracker is an extraordinary record of artist Mihail Chemiakin's commission from the legendary Kirov Ballet for a new staging of The Nutcracker ballet. His innovative new costumes, exquisite sketches, paintings, watercolors and maquettes reveal a powerful imagination at work. Fanciful and dainty characters from previous productions have been transformed into lively creatures, drawing you into Chemiakin's world of visual surprises where the ordinary unravels into the extraordinary. The simplest objects- the grandfather's shoe, or the Christmas tree, bees and candies, hats and coats- takeon odd shapes and sizes, like out of control cartoon characters. Essays from leading figures in the world of Russian Ballet world explore the challenges Chemiakin faced working on one of the most important Commissions in the world of Ballet. Whether you are an avid fan of the Nutcracker ballet, a student of theater and costume design, or an art lover, Staging the Nutcracker is a richly illustrated record and treasured heirloom that will delight and inspire for years to come.

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Swan Lake

A Beautiful Introduction to Ballet

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My four-year-old daughter discovered this book at the library and has fallen in love with it. Even her older friends (7 and 9) enjoy reading it and acting out the story. Rachel Isadora has written a simple yet poignant story of the ballet Swan Lake which children from four to eight can understand and enjoy. Her beautiful impressionistic illustrations captivate children and adults alike and truly make both the story and the ballet come to life before your eyes. I highly recommend this book to all little girls, especially those interested in ballet.

Ballet Class for Beginners

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David Howard's Ballet Class for Beginners is an excellent learning and teaching tool especially designed by America's foremost ballet master to introduce the beginning dance student to the technique and vocabulary of classical ballet with the emphasis on posture, placement, and movement potential. Featuring Allison Potter with music by Whit Kellog. Ballet is free clip art pictures come alive.

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