Ballet History Ballet originated in the Italian Renaissance

Ballet

History • Ballet originated in the Italian Renaissance courts and was brought to France by Catherin de Medici in the 16 th Century • In the 17 th century, ballet popularity in France increased and started to be performed by professional dancers with great acrobatic skills. • Academie de Dance was the first ballet school, established in 1661 by King Louis XIV

Romantic Ballet • Romantic ballet is defined by an era during the early to mid 19 th century in which ballets featured themes that emphasized intense emotion as a source of aesthetic experience

Classical Ballet • Is based on traditional ballet technique and vocabulary

Neoclassical Ballet • Is a style that utilizes classical ballet technique and vocabulary, but deviates from classical ballet in its use of the abstract

Contemporary Ballet • Is a form of dance that opens up the doors for any style to influence a work made utilizing ballet technique.

Technique • Ballet technique represents the foundation principles for body movement for every dancer. • It gives you: • • • Strength Elegance Discipline Precise body form Precise body movement flexibility

Anna Pavlova (1881 -1931) • One of the most celebrated and influential ballerinas ever • Russian • Made up for her apparent limited technique with a unique charm. • She’s renowned for her creation of the role The Dying Swan

Mikhail Baryshnikov (1948 - ) • Russian • One of the greatest male ballet dancers in history • His success as a dramatic actor on stage, cinema and television has helped him become probably the most widely recognized contemporary ballet dancers. • Became a pioneer of modern dance at the New York City Ballet.

Mikhail Baryshnikov • https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=cw. S_a. Ow. Val. U

Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) • Referred to in Winnipeg as, “The Ballet” • One of the world’s premier dance companies • Located downtown • Canada’s oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America. • Founded in 1939 • The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School is composed of two divisions: Recreational and Professional

RWB • https: //www. rwb. org/who-we-are/