Agenda
• Things to Get:
– Paper from the front of
the room (if there is
paper  )
• Things to Do:
– Opener:
• Review of Modern
Dance
– Class work:
• Ballet Russe
• Balanchine
• Baryshnikov
– Exit Slip:
• Review of Modern
Ballet
Opener
• 1) Name the artist and art
movement for the image on the
right.
• 2) What jazz composer is famous
for writings songs for the skills of
the individuals in his band?
• 3) What is the storyline of Alvin
Ailey’s Revelations?
• 4) What were the techniques
created by Martha Graham for
Modern dance.
– Hint: hands, feet, torso, costumes,
hair…
• 5) What style of dance is seen in
the clip shown? Why?
– Support your answer with evidence
from question one.
http://youtu.be/oGY-8z3ytvQ
The Development of American Ballet
And how the Soviet Union made that possible 
• Let’s start with a review…
The Development of American Ballet
And how the Soviet Union made that possible 
• Public Ballets in Russia were staged as early as
1759
• Significant ballet schools were the Bolshoi,
Maryinsky, St. Petersburg, and Moscow
– Maryinsky Theater, under Marius Petipa, created
the core of Russian Ballet (Swan Lake, the
Nutcracker)
– It was during this time that Petipa developed his
philosophy on dancers’ training:
• Philosophy: Rigorous training for dancers from a
young age ensured brilliant technique.
– Petipa brought the best of Europe east, using the
wealth of the Russian court and their desire for
spectacles to create the Classical Ballet
• Classical ballets were developed in the Soviet
Union.
– Ballets now used amazing technique to create
huge spectacles full of sets, costumes, and music
to support a large group of dancers
Diaghilev’s Ballet Russe
The Preeminent Russian Ballet Company
• One of the most influential ballet
companies of the 20th century
• Known for ground-breaking artistic
collaboration among
– contemporary choreographers
– Composers
– Artists
– dancers
• Created in 1909 by Serge Diaghilev
• Choreographers included
– Marius Petipa
– Michel Fokine
– Vaslav Nijinsky
– George Balanchine
• It created a sensation in Western
Europe because of the great vitality
of Russian ballet compared to
French dance
 When company disbanded after
Diaghilev’s death in 1929, many
artists moved to America
 Famous Work: The Rite of Spring
Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes
The Rite of Spring
• Choreographed by
– Vaslav Nijinsky
• Composed by
– Igor Stravinsky
• Date of Premiere
– May 29th, 1913
• Original Ballet Company:
– Ballets Russes
• Designs by
– Nicholas Roerich
• Setting:
– Russia
• Genre:
– Russian Modernism Ballet
• Duration:
– 33 mins
• Storyline:
– A pagan ritual in which a young girl
dances herself to death
Rite of Spring Analysis
• Objective:
– To analyze how the artistic
collaboration of
choreographers, composers,
artists, and dancers can
produce a ground-breaking
production
• Assignment:
– In groups of two, use the
resources provided to
complete your learning guide.
• Time allotted:
– 20 minutes
The Rite of Spring
Part One: Show Until 2:35
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adDhN12KG5M&fb_source=message
Part Two: Show Until 6:00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AKpJ1NqyeM
Part Three: Show until 1:00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_7ndqgwxcM&feature=related
• Viewing Analysis
George Balanchine
• 1904-1983 (born in St. Petersburg, Russia)
• The foremost contemporary choreographer
in the world of ballet.
• Education:
– Studied at the Imperial School of Ballet during
World War I.
• After leaving the Soviet Union, he came to
America.
– He founded school of American Ballet in 1934
and the New York City Ballet in 1948
• Most Known For:
– Founded the New York City Ballet in 1948
• Acted as their artistic director and chief
choreographer
– His neoclassical style.
– Creating American ballet
• He was an international choreographer and
almost every ballet company in the world has
performed his work.
• Famous Work: Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes
•
•
•
•
1958
Evokes Fourth of July parades
Choreographed by George Balanchine
Composed by John Philip Sousa
– The original music was adapted and
orchestrated by Hershy Kay
• Performed in 5 acts (campaigns). It
lasts an average of 28 minutes.
• Overview
– It is a full-company ballet complete
with baton twirling, military marching
and a regiment of rifle-bearing
ballerinas. The fourth campaign is a
challenging pas de deux with a coda set
to the "Liberty Bell" and "El Capitan"
marches which shows the virtuosity of
the dancers.
Mikhail Baryshnikov
• Born January 27, 1948
• Best Ballet Male Dancer of 20th Century
• Began dancing in Riga, Lativa
• Debut made at Maryinsky Theater in 1967
• Debut with ABA in 1974.
– Principle dancer
– artistic director
• In 1990 he founded the White Oak project
with Mark Morris
• the company reflects the transformation
of Russian ballet into American modern
dance.
• most widely recognized contemporary ballet
dancer because of acting ability
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsOJ0G1psUA
Baryshnikov
Scene from White Nights
• Objective:
Demonstrate your knowledge of
Baryshnikov
– You must demonstrate your knowledge of why
Baryshnikov earned the title of “Best Male Dancer of
20th century”
• Audience:
– You must select one of the following as your
audience:
•
•
•
•
•
•
People who don’t like dance - 5 year olds
Athletes
- Females
Males
- Dance Lovers
Theater Actors
- Visual Artists
Musicians
- Architect
HS Visual and Performance Arts Teachers
Label your audience, along with your name, on the back of your paper
• Requirements:
– Color
- Full Page
– Must be persuasive (I must be convinced that
Baryshnikov is the “Best Male Dancer of the 20th Century”)
– Include persuasive language to convince your
audience!
– Four facts to prove that he’s the best!
• Time Allotment: 15 minutes
• 1) What ballet company was the preeminent ballet
company of first three decades of 20th century?
• 2) Why was the company above considered “ground
breaking?”
• 3) Why was the Rite of Spring so controversial?
• 4) Why is Balanchine considered “the father of American
Ballet?”
• 5) What is the name of the dancer is considered “the best
male performers” of the 20th century?