Topic 5
The Development of Ballet
Chapter 2 and La Danse video
When did the Court Ballet begin?
What was the purpose of the Court Ballet?
What influence did fencing have on the development of ballet movement?
Why was Louis XIV important to the development of ballet?
Why did Noverre seek to unite dance and mime in the 18thc?
The Romantic Ballet began in Paris in 1832. Please name 2 developments in the theatrical presentation that increased the sense of magical transformation that characterized the Romantic Ballet.
Why was August Bournonville important to ballet?
By 1860, Ballet began to thrive in Russia as it declined in France. From where did Russians import choreographers? Dancers?
Who was Marius Petipa?
Who was the music composer for The Sleeping Beauty?
Why was The Sleeping Beauty such an important work in Ballet history?
In 1909, dance began to radically change with the advent of a new, rebellious Russian dance company The Ballets Russes. This was in part due to Michel Fokine. How did he want to change the ballet as he knew it? What did he think was now missing?
Who was Serge Diaghilev? What happened when he died?
In the 1930’s, Ballet finally came to America. Two important Ballet Companies were founded – The American Ballet Theatre (ABT) and the New York City Ballet (NYCB). What was important to George Balanchine (NYCB) as a choreographer? What was ABT known for?
What is lacking in the ballet world today?
Please discuss three things you learned from watching the dance documentary La Danse.
the reading is attached to the files and the documentary can be found on the web.
