Ballet Russe Arrives in Paris
An All Star Cast of Russian Dancers
Serge Diaghilev (1872-1929)
The framework of his vision was a stroke of brilliance. He drew on the talents of the greatest artist of the period, bringing to his company extraordinary groups of dancers, composers, choreographers, and painters.
Meet The Choreographers
Michel Fokine (1880-1942)
A Russian native, Fokine trained and performed in Russia before joining Ballet Russe as a dancer and choreographer. These are his best known works:
Les Sylphides (1909): This abstract ballet captures the essence of romantic style ballets.
Petrouchka (1911): The story of a sad clown puppet at a 19th century Russian carnival.
Firebird (1910):
A fairy tale in which a prince meets a magical firebird.
Leonide Massine (1896-1979)
Vaslav Nijinsky (1890-1950)
Le Apres-mid-d un faune (Afternoon of the Faun, 1912): In this controversial ballet, Nijinsky used the music of French composer Claude Debussy and Greek sculpture as inspiration.
Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring, 1913): This avante-garde ballet used rhythm and movement to re-create and ancient ritual to music by Russian-born composer Igor Stravinsky.
Dancers of the Ballet Russe
Diaghilev Dies
Monday, Aug 19, 1929, 09:00 PM
Venice, Italy
Key TERMS
Abstract Ballet - a ballet without a plot
Avant-Garde - new and unusual or experimental ideas, especially in the arts
Impresario -a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays, and/or operas.
Repertoire- a stock of plays, dances, or pieces that a company or a performer knows or is prepared to perform.