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Dance History Test #2 > People/Places/Terms > Flashcards

Flashcards in People/Places/Terms Deck (47)
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1
Q

Nutcracker

A

Two Act ballet 1st produced at the Maryinsky Theater in 1892

- Marius Petipa wrote the scenario, then due to illness Lev Ivanov choreographed it

2
Q

Pas de Quatre

A

A plot-less ballet that brought together 4 leading ballerinas of the romantic era:
- Marie Taglioni
- Fanny Cerrito
- Carlotta Grisi
- Lucile Grahn
Choreographed by Jules Perrot in 1845. Ballet embodies the essence of the Romantic Era

3
Q

Swan Lake

A

Ivanov Choreographed ACT 2 as a memorial to Tchaikocsky
- It was choreographed twice but didn’t work
- In 1895, ballet was completed
- Act 1 & 3 by petipa (White Swan)
- Act 2 & 4 by Iranov ( Black Swan)
- Two different endings
Original ending closes with Odette and Siegfried jumping into a lake united in death and then the Ending changed to show Siegfried fighting the sorcerer and winning
- Roles of Odette and Odile played by same ballerina
- Fouette very popular in this ballet (1st performed by Pierina Legani)

4
Q

The Sleeping Beauty

A

Choreographed by Marius Petipa w/ music by Tchaikovsky in 1890

  • Based on the French Fairytale
  • Presented in 3 acts
  • performed 1st at the Maryinsky Theater & considerd high point of 19th C. czarist culture
  • Contains some of Petipa’s greatest choreographic ideas
5
Q

Copellia

A

“The Girl with the Enamel Eyes” opened at the Paris Opera in 1870

  • Choreographed by Arthur Saint-Leon
  • 3 act scenario based on “The Sandman” by E.T.A.
  • Considered the last great ballet of the Romantic Era
  • A boy falls in love with a doll: romantic and comedic
6
Q

Giselle

A

Premiered at the Paris Opera in 1841

  • Choreo by Jean Coralli w/ Jules Perrot doing Grisi’s dances as Giselle
  • Carlotta Grisi plays Giselle
  • She dies of a broken heart when finding out her lover has another woman
  • Unique because the character dies at the beginning
7
Q

La Sylphide

A

1832 opened at the Paris Opera
- Choreographed by Filippo Taglinoi for his daughter Marie Taglioni
Plot
- Scotsman falls for a fairy and collaborates with witch
- Witch gives him a scarf to contain the fairy
- He catches the fairy but her wings fall off and she dies
Ballet resembles wanting the unattainable = Romanticism at its best

8
Q

Alexander Gorsky

A

Restages a lot of Marius Petipa’s works to make them more realistic… Hard to deviate from his choreographic formula though.

9
Q

Anna Pavlova

A

From Russia & Dancer w/ Ballet Russes

  • Left the company and went on tour with her most famous work “The Dying Swan”
  • Dancing was a compulsion for her & toured constantly
  • Not a great technician, but was expressive and dramatic.
  • Her ballets glorified the individual
  • She was the only female star during the Russian revolution or WWI
10
Q

Apollo

A

Choreographed by Balanchine in 1928 for the Ballet Russes

  • Regarded as his landmark
  • focused on abstract ideas and neoclassic style
  • Stravinsky composed
11
Q

August Bournonville

A

Danish dancer, choreographer, and ballet director
- Studied at Royal Danish Ballet & became company member at 15
- His ballets became the foundation for the Royal Danish Ballet
- Big on notation
His ballets are the only ones that survived after the romantic period
- Created a syllabus
- Choreographed another version of la sylphids
Included beats that demanded speed and elevation for men, but charming choreography for the women

12
Q

Auguste Vestris

A

Dancer who debuted at the Paris Opera at age 12 and was a premier dancer by 21

  • Stayed there for 30 years
  • famous for his jumps & demi-caractere
  • Son of Gaetan Vestris
13
Q

Ballet Russes

A

Russian Dance Company that flourished in 1909-1929
- The most important ballet company of the early 20th century
- Directed by Sergei Diaghilev
Also Ballet Russe
- Five prominent choreographers came out of this company: Ballachine, Fokine, Dieghilev, Najinska, Pavlova
- Diaghilev believed imaginative choreography was essential…furthered the art form
- Imaginative keeps energy for both dancers and audience
- Maintains the interest in coming to see ballets because of their creativity
- He encouraged new choreographers

14
Q

Bolshoi

A

State supported ballet school is Moscow, Russia
- Bolshoi means “big”
As Russian ballet became westernized, foregin teachers and stars began to tour their works causing the czarist government to fund the Russian Ballet masters more to improve.

15
Q

Bronislava Nijinska

A

Born in Russia & trained w/ Imperial Ballet School until graduation in 1908
- Joined Ballet Russes for a season in 1910
- Nijinsky’s sister
- Choreographed during early 1920’s
Her choreography was called “choreographic cocktails”
- Was able to create a mix of several types of choreography that made her style different from everyone else.

16
Q

Carlo Blasis

A

Teacher of teachers- influential Romantic teacher
- Created the attitude based off the statue of mercury
- Helped to codify ballet
Wrote The Code of Terpsichore Notes Upon Dancing, which included:
- Theories of good technique
- Advice on finding a good teacher
- Developing body properly

17
Q

Carlotto Grisi

A

Italian dancer w/ Scala Ballet

  • Perrot’s pupil in 1833
  • Joined Paris Opera in 1841 & danced lead in Giselle
  • some believe she was the 1st to dance in block pointe shoes
18
Q

Carmargo & Salle

A
Female stars of the 18th C. 
Carmargo
- Known for jumps and leaps (entrechat)
- shortened skirts to show off feet
- Flashy dancer full of emotion and showmanship! 

Salle

  • Very reserved, internal emotions
  • Liked dramatic character roles
  • Let her hair down instead of a wig

Large rivalry between the two

19
Q

Charles Didelot

A

Important French Choreographer 1700s

  • Concerned with dramatic expression
  • Stage ballets across Europe, especially Russia
  • Dramatic coherence of great importance
  • Impressed by sculpture & paintings.. used as basis for poses and groupings of formations
  • Enamored with stage craft
  • Advocate of tights
20
Q

Filippo Taglioni

A

Italian dancer, choreographer, and Ballet Master

  • Father of Marie Taglioni
  • Contributed a new style to ballet that was light and gracious; featuring a dancer’s elevation and mystique
21
Q

Firebird

A

Ballet choreographed by Michael Fokine in 1910
- Russian Fairy tale
A prince meets a magical firebird and receives one of her feathers that allows him to rescue a princess and kill monsters

22
Q

Gaetan Vestris

A

Male star of the 18th C. ballerinas

  • Joined Paris Opera in 1749
  • arrogant style of dance
  • “God of the Dance” after Dupre
  • Student of Dupre
23
Q

George Balanchine

A

Famous dancer, choreographer (1904-1983)
- Entered Imperial Ballet School in 1914
- Diaghilev invited him to join the Ballet Russes in 1924
Choreographed 10 productions for Ballet Russes: 2 survive today
- The Prodigal Son
- Apollo, by Stravinsky

24
Q

Jean George Noverre & ballet d’action

A

Noverre was a ballet master for many European theaters
- Recognized ballet as a potential art form
Wrote “Letters on Dancing and Ballets”, 1760
- Influenced the unity of the art
- All aspects should contribute to the telling of the story
- Audience should be moved by their dramatic experience.
- Dance technique should not be shown off.. All dance steps should be related to the story.
- Heels and bulky skirts too restrictive
- Scenery, music and plot UNIFIED
Noverre’s Legacy
- None of his works remain
- Collaborated with great artists like W.A Mozart
- Became known as the “Shakespeare of Dance”

Advocate for ballet d’action:
Ballet d’action and its significance
- Emphasis is on the unity of the drama ( as opposed to ballet a entrée )
- Early attempted to separate ballet from opera
- Early 18th century: mythological themes
- End of 18th Century: Revolved around humans in search for mysterious and imaginary worlds

25
Q

Kirov

A

The other Russian Czarist supported state ballet school

- Known as the Maryinsky first

26
Q

L’Apres Midi d’un Faun

A

A controversial ballet written by Vaslav Nijinsky

  • Performed in 1912
  • Very offensive to Paris audience because of its explicit sexual overtones and faun’s suggestive movements
27
Q

Le Sacre du Printemps

A

“The Rite of Spring” also written by Vaslav Nijinsky

  • 1913
  • based on tribal dance, anti-classical movements
28
Q

Leonide Massine

A
Joined Ballet Russes in 1913; Diaghilev's next protégé
- Chief choreographer through 1921
- Good character dancer
- Witty and quirky, inventive, sophisticated choreography
Massine's Ballets
- Pulcinella
By Stravinsky – Composer 
Sets by Picasso
Tribute to commedia dell' arte
- The Three-Corned Hat
Sets by Picasso
- Parade, 1917
Star of the Jazz age
Example of modernism
Picasso designed the costumes
29
Q

Les Sylphides

A

Choreographed by Michael Fokine in 1909

  • 1st one act ballet
  • 1st abstract ballet w/ no plot
  • Only 30 minutes
  • A tribute to Taglioni’s La Sylphide & still contained a romantic feel to it
30
Q

Louis Dupre

A

Known as “Le Grand Dupre”

  • Professional dancer at Paris Opera
  • Majestic movement titled him “God of the Dance”
  • Teacher of Gaetan Vestris
31
Q

Marius Petipa & his choreographic formulas

A

Used pocket choreographic formulas for making Grand Pas de Deux
1) Entrée
2) Adagio
3) Solos
4) Coda
Choreographed many 19th C. Ballets that are still performed today (The Sleeping Beauty)

32
Q

Michael Fokine (including choreographic reforms/style)

A

Paved the way for 20th C. choreographers. Began to push the envelope and wrestled ballet out of the classical era. Choreographed for Diaghilev w/ Ballet Russes.
- Les Sylphides
- Firebird
- Petrouchka
- Shereazade
Began the one act ballet & believed in dramatic use of body and arms; also, dancer’s didn’t wait for their applause at the end of performances.

33
Q

Opera Ballet

A

Prominent during the 1st half of the 18th C.

  • An extension/development of ballet in operas during 17th C.
  • Arranged around social dance forms
  • Each act had set dances, w/ each dancer performing their specialty
34
Q

Petrouchka

A

Fokine ballet in 1911

- 19th C. Russian Shrovetide Carnival settinginvolving three puppets

35
Q

Sergei Diaghilev

A

Not a dancer… A manager who brought great dancers together and made classical ballet a modern art through its cultural relevance
- Often replaced people when he had disagreements with them
- “Monarch” of the Company
He died in Venice in 1929
- The company died with him (the original form of the Ballet Russes)
Diaghilev’s legacy
- After him, ballet was seen as a serious art form
- Blend of choreography, music, décor – uniqueness made him so famous
- First to secure private funding for the arts
Diaghilev
- Wanted to bring Russian ballet to Europe
Was not possible to stay in Russia and try to do things differently
- Czar still had complete control over country
Company began as a showcase on leave and became their own company
- Blended choreography, music, décor
- Composers: Stravinsky, Debussy, Strauss
- Artists: Picasso, Matisse, Rouault

36
Q

Spectra de la Rose

A

Fokine Ballet

37
Q

Taglioni & Elssler

A

Most Famous Romantic Ballerina’s of the Romantic Era:
Taglioni and Elssler are complete opposite styles; rivals

Taglioni

  • Most noted Romantic ballerina
  • Cool spirited quality
  • Labeled a Christian
  • Role of sylphide made her popular with dancers and audience
  • Made the romantic tutu popular
  • Credited with pointe shoes (first known to do it successfully)

Elssler

  • Taglioni’s rival
  • Labeled a Pagan
  • Known for her folk dances especially Cachucha
  • Danced with warmth and passion
  • Toured Europe and United States
  • Danced as a woman and wasn’t afraid to show her sexuality
38
Q

The 2 main traits of Romantic Ballet

A

Romanticism:
- Artist preferred feeling and passion
- Intense dance training even more necessary
Interest in foreign lands introduced exotic, colorful aspects, aided by:
- Travel
- Industrial Revolution
- Desire for non-rational or supernatural
- Spirits and elves symbolized irrational forces

TWO MAIN TRAITS:

  • Earthy, realistic, pedestrian (act 1)
  • Fantastical, ethereal dancers, mystery (yearning for unattainable) (Act 2)
39
Q

The development of Russian Ballet

A

Russia becomes Westernized
- Imitating Europe fashions and dance
- Foreign ballet masters and choreographers invited there
Jean baptiste Lande
- He founded the St. Petersburg Ballet School 1738
Ballet stars started to tour Russia
- Tagliono, Essler, Grisi
- Czar paid for theaters and schools (State supported )
- Lavish costumes, décor, music
- Government support gave respectability to dance careers for men and women
State Supported Schools formed
- Resulted in two major Russian companies
Moscow > Bolshoi ( Big)
St. Petersburg > Mariyinsky (now the Kirov)
- St. Petersburg is now Leningrad
With the rise of Russian ballet, what individual made the most significant impact?
- Marius Petipa

40
Q

The Dying Swan

A

Anna Pavlova left Ballet Russes to perform this ballet… It became her most famous work

41
Q

The French Revolution

A

1789-1799 1st major revolution in modern history
- Unfair tax systems, lavish government spending, fear of invasion, and American Revolution cause the downfall of Louis XVI
- Napoleon took power and claimed himself as Ceasar; making classicism the new style
Arts took a large turn, especially Ballet
- focus was on ordinary life & relationships

42
Q

The Industrial Revolution

A

An increase in technology from the production of new machinery led to mass production of consumer products

  • created thousands of new jobs, increasing the wealth of the middle class
  • Society became depressed due to the mundane activities of everyday life
43
Q

The Prodigal Son

A

Ballet choreographed by Balanchine: One of his 2 that still survive today
- 1929, parable or story ballet

44
Q

The Romantic Era

A

The 19th Century, Romanticism existed from 1830-1850
- Developed during time of social upheaval and radical ideas
Rise of the middle class
- French Revolution made the middle class important
- Drama opera and ballet performances more accessible to wider audiences
Important ideas
- Materialism
- Prudishness
- Hypocrisy

Romanticism
- Revolt from these ideas
- Artist preferred feeling and passion
- Intense dance training even more necessary
Important developments
- Interest in foreign lands introduced exotic, colorful aspects, aided by: Travel, Industrial Revolution, Desire for non-rational or supernatural
- Spirits and elves symbolized irrational forces

45
Q

The 3 categories of dance styles during the 1700s, as ballet became professionalized

A

Describe the hierarchy of dance performers at this time

  • Technique develops quickly as professionals emerge
  • 3 Categories
    1. Danse Noble- Highest and the best dancers were the heroes
    2. Demi- Charactere
    3. Comique (grotesque)
46
Q

The Three Cornered Hat

A

A ballet created by Leonide Massine during his time with Ballet Russes
- sets done by Picasso

47
Q

Vaslav Nijinsky

A

Dancer 1st with Ballet Russes in 1908, then Choreographed
- Great performer who adapted to many roles, played the part in look/portrayal – utilized a lot of acting aspects to enrich the story line
- Starred in Many of Fokine’s ballets
- Slow as a choreographer- detailed
Diaghilev dismissed him when he married …(don’t know how he even got married)
- Career ended in 1917 due to mental illness

Nijinsky's Controversial ballets
- 	L'Apres- Midi d'un Faun (Afternoon of a Faun)
By Debussy, 1912
- Jeux, By Debussy 1913
- Le Sacre du Printemps ( the Rite of Spring) 
By Stravinsky
Based on tribal dance
Anti- classical movement