The history of ballet for children will tell you how and where ballet appeared.

When did ballet appear?

The term “ballet” appeared at the end of the 16th century (from Italian balletto - to dance). But then it did not mean a performance, but only a dance episode conveying a certain mood.

Ballet as an art form is quite young. The dance that adorns our lives has already reached its end 400 years. The place where ballet originated is Northern Italy, and this happened during the Renaissance. Local princes loved the magnificent palace festivities and hired dance masters who rehearsed dance movements and individual figures with noble people.

It is believed that the one who invented the ballet was the Italian choreographer Baltazarini di Belgioioso. He staged the first ballet performance called "The Queen's Comedy Ballet", which was staged in France in 1581.

It was in France that ballet began to develop. During the reign of Louis XIV, court ballet performances reached special splendor.

Brief history of Russian ballet

In Russia, a ballet performance called “The Ballet of Orpheus and Eurydice” was staged for the first time on February 8, 1673. This happened in the palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Slow and ceremonious dances featured graceful poses, moves and bows, which alternated with speech and singing.

Only a quarter of a century later, along with the reforms of Peter I, dance and music entered the life of the Russian people. In educational institutions, dance classes were equipped for nobles. Foreign opera artists, musicians and ballet troupes began performing at the royal court.

The first ballet school in Russia was opened in 1731. It was called the nobility Land Corps. It is considered the cradle of Russian ballet. Jean Baptiste Lande, a French dancer, made a huge contribution to the development of the ballet school. He is the founder of Russian ballet. Lande also opened the first ballet dance school in Russia. Today it is the Academy of Russian Ballet named after. A.Ya.Vaganova.

Ballet received a further impetus in its development during the reign of Tsarina Elizabeth Petrovna. After the invitation to Russia of the choreographer from France Didelot, this art reached a special peak - graceful productions, poses and design created a sensation.

It is rightly considered the highest level of choreographic art, where dance turns into a musical stage performance. This type of art arose in the 15th-16th centuries, much later than dance. Initially, it was a courtly aristocratic art. Dance is the main means of expression in ballet, but the dramatic basis, scenography, and the work of costume and lighting designers are of considerable importance.

Classical ballet is a narrative dance, where dancers always tell a story through dance. Classic multi-act ballet is traditionally dedicated to myths, fairy tales, and historical themes. Genre productions can be heroic, comic, folklore.

The origin of the name is either the Latin ballo - “dancing”, or the French balleto, which has the same meaning.

Ballet refers to both a dance performance and a type of theatrical and musical art in which expressive artistic images are created with the help of plasticity and choreography.

The theatricalization of dance began in Italy in the 15th century, when dance masters began to create court and ballroom dances based on folk dances.

First ballet

The first ballet production, which combined dance, music, pantomime and speech, was staged in France at the court of Catherine de Medici at the end of the 16th century. It was called “Circe and the Nymphs” and was staged by Baltazarini di Belgioioso, a wonderful choreographer and violinist who arrived from Italy with his orchestra of violinists.

It was a production with an ancient plot, which marked the beginning of the development of French court ballet. Interludes, pastorals, masquerades and dance divertissements quickly became the highlight of court festivities.

The main canons of ballet, compiled by Pierre Beauchamp

Every dance has certain rules at its core, and dance turned into ballet when choreographer Pierre Beauchamp described the canons of a noble dance manner.

Beauchamp divided the dancer's movements into groups - jumps, squats, various body positions and rotations. This type of dance art was based on the principle of eversion of the legs, thanks to which the body could move in different directions. The above movements were performed based on three arm positions and five leg positions.

Development of ballet

From this moment the development of ballet began, which became an independent art in the 18th century.

The development of ballet schools begins throughout Europe, reaching Russia, where the Russian Imperial Ballet was founded in 1738 in St. Petersburg.

The early dancers had a hard time - they wore very complex costumes, and heavy skirts made their movements difficult. But gradually the costume changed - the ballet shoes lost their heels, the ballerinas’ clothes became light and airy.

Choreographers taught dancers to express emotions with gestures and facial expressions; mythological plots were replaced by stories about distant countries, love stories and fairy tales. In this form, classical ballet has survived to this day as one of the beautiful forms of dance art.

Instructions

The ballet appeared first in Italy, then in France. It is curious that he even knows the date of the first French ballet production. On October 15, 1581, the royal and courtiers saw the production of Circe, or the Queen's Comedy Ballet. The idea of the performance belongs to one of the court violinists - the Italian Baltazarini de Belgioso.

At the dawn of ballet, it was based on dances adopted at the royal court. After about a hundred years, new genres emerge: ballet, ballet-opera and others. The music for such performances is beginning to be identified as a special genre, and the production is trying to be as dramatic as possible. After another century, ballet became an independent art form. A significant role in this was played by the French choreographer Jean Georges Noverre, who carried out a number of reforms and relied on revealing the production through expressive images.

Ballet has always been placed in a special category. The first performance in Russia was staged on February 8, 1673. That day, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was in the village of Preobrazhenskoye near Moscow and wanted to have fun. According to legend, he liked the ballet so much that he ordered the development of this art direction.

Russian ballet as a special part of the general art of ballet began to take shape at the beginning of the 19th century. The French choreographer Charles-Louis Didelot made the connection between dance steps and pantomime closer and increased the importance of the corps de ballet. It was he who made women's dance the center of the production. Russian ballet would not be known throughout the world if not for the composer P.I. Tchaikovsky. It was he who created the music that became the basis for the classical ballets “The Nutcracker”, “Swan Lake”, “Sleeping Beauty” and others. Deep, soulful music gave the dancers the opportunity to more fully reveal the figurative content and express the feelings and experiences of the characters through dramatic means. On stage, the characters grew, developed, fought with each other and themselves, fell in love, killed. Ballet has ceased to be just a type of dance, but has become a real art, understandable to the viewer.

Academic ballet of the 19th century was bound by rules, stereotypes and conventions. At the beginning of the 20th century, not only in Russia, but also in other countries of the world, an intensified search for new forms began. Modernism appeared - an alternative to strict ballet forms, and then free dance. It is believed that free dance was invented by Isadora Duncan. She was convinced that dance is natural, part of every person and reflects the language of the soul. It was Duncan who was the first to step down from ballet pointe shoes and abandon uncomfortable tutus in favor of light and flowing clothes. Free dance has become a worldwide movement, which served as the impetus for the next evolutionary round of ballet.

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Tip 2: New trends: ballet in a modern interpretation

Fashion, as you know, does not exist on its own. It coexists in close kinship with painting, music, theater, dance and architecture. It combines all types of art, interpenetrating each other, they create something new and unusual. Then this new thing reaches the masses, and they, without even suspecting what work was behind the selection of this or that color or style, simply choose what they like, or what fashion rules dictate to them.

One of the current trends today is things reminiscent of tutus, pointe shoes and other attributes of ballerinas. They seem to be created specifically for the hot summer, and at the same time it is quite obvious that such clothes are created for exceptional occasions. Airy dresses are simply too good for ordinary moments, too sublime to be at the mercy of everyday life. And the evening look, consisting of airy skirts, looks so amazing that it is quite obvious: today you cannot do without ballet-themed items.

Moreover, you can’t stop at just one piece of clothing, and is it worth it when there are a variety of ballet flats, flowing blouses, decorated with jabots around a slip dress with ruffles? The light texture of the fabrics gives things true charm. The ballet theme brought with it an abundance of organza, feathers and a little glitter, not at all pretentious.

It is recommended to combine all this with something restrained, classic, and contrasting in texture. For example, paired with a dress with a fluffy asymmetrical skirt, you can wear a men’s-cut jacket made of thick fabric and become a real queen of the evening. Well, a set of a leather jacket and a combination is already a classic. In general, don't be afraid to experiment. Fashion is mostly a game; it does not and cannot have clear rules.

In fact, this trend is definitely worth it. It perfectly emphasizes the fragility of female beauty, and, in addition, it is predicted that it will go into the next season. So any investment in ballet-themed items will pay off, if not this summer, then definitely in the fall. Although in the summer, skirts in the style of Carrie Bradshaw simply cannot lie idle. Ballet is not just dance, in the new season it is our everything. Light dresses are not whimsical in combinations, which means you shouldn’t be afraid of making a mistake.

Which is based on dance. A ballet performance is based on a plot called a libretto. Pantomime plays a big role in ballet. With its help, dancers convey their feelings and the essence of what is happening.

Types of ballet

Initially, only classical dance was called ballet, but gradually this concept began to extend to folk dances, modern, character, and acrobatic.

There is also a show ballet with colorful decorations and costumes. In addition, a very popular art form is ice ballet, where instead of ballet shoes called pointe shoes, skates are worn, and the artists themselves are professional figure skaters. Ballet is a wonderful art form, but it requires a certain amount of endurance, good health, endurance, willpower and hard work. In order to demonstrate soaring movements on stage, you need to practice in the ballet hall every day.

Origin of ballet

The word "ballet" comes from the Latin word ballo, which means "to dance." Italy is considered the birthplace of this art form. The first dance scenes appeared in the sixteenth century. After some time, court ballet became popular in France. Such masterpieces as the ballet “Swan Lake” were still very far away, and the dances performed in palaces bore little resemblance to the art that can now be seen on stage.

By the end of the eighteenth century, the ballet costume became shorter and airier, and the first pointe shoes appeared - professional shoes for ballerinas.

The popularization of choreographic art begins, its lovers appear who regularly attend performances. In those days, there were no separate institutions that were called ballet theater, but great attention began to be paid to the art of dance. Great composers Ludwig van Beethoven, Leo Delibes, Minkus and others begin to create romantic music for ballets. The first full-fledged ballet performances appear.

Ballet in Russia

In Russia, audiences learned what ballet is in 1673. Then, under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the first ballet performance took place. The French choreographer-choreographer Charles-Louis Didelot had a huge influence on Russian ballet. He connected dance and pantomime, attached great importance to the corps de ballet and placed emphasis on solo female parts.

Choreographer Marius Petipa strengthened the Russian school of ballet; his name is still known to fans of choreographic art. The end of the nineteenth century in ballet circles is called the “era of Petipa.”

Then a new name thundered in Russia, having a huge impact on the world of ballet. This is Mikhail Fokin. He became a real reformer and made significant changes to the performances. He changed the traditional structure of ballet and dance patterns. Fokine revived romantic ballets such as Chopiniana. His muse was the incomparable ballerina Anna Pavlova. Her "Dying Swan" is a symbol of Russian ballet of the early twentieth century.

Immortal performance "Swan Lake"

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky created a real sensation in the ballet world. He wrote music for several ballet performances, including the world-famous ballet Swan Lake. This work of art is heard by every person, even those who are completely far from choreography.

The most popular ballet in the world was created in 1876. It is hard to believe that the first two productions had no popularity and did not make an impression on the audience. The great composer did not experience the great success of his creation during his lifetime. It was only in 1895 that the revived ballet, staged by choreographers Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa, was shown on the stage of the Mariinsky Theater. It was Lev Ivanov who revived the play, first staging the second act, which included the legendary dance of the little swans. Marius Petipa liked his vision of the plot, and they began to work together on the production.

The new version of the ballet "Swan Lake" was a resounding success. The choreography of the two great choreographers is classic; any opera and ballet theater in the world necessarily assigns this performance the most important role in its repertoire.

Contemporary ballet

Speaking about what ballet is, one cannot fail to mention modern theatrical productions, which differ from classical ballet in their more daring costumes and relaxed movements. If classic presupposes strict and precise movements, then modern represents a freer dance interpretation. In modern ballet, new movements have appeared that have become more flexible and acrobatic. Ballet connoisseurs react differently to innovation in choreography. Some still perceive only the classics and believe that a real ballet performance should only be staged in places such as the Opera and Ballet Theater, while others believe that ballet, like the modern world, should develop and not stand on one place.

This is natural and natural, you can accept this fact or not, but it cannot be avoided. Modern ballet is multifaceted and multi-level, and many famous dancers are happy to participate in new productions in which they hone their skills.

The future of ballet

What is ballet? Many creative people love it and understand the movements. A true balletomane cannot imagine life without dance. Some people believe that ballet performances are created only for amateurs, and do not understand the meaning of this art. However, not a single country in the world can imagine cultural life without ballet. This is the kind of performing art that will live forever. It will change, new productions will appear, new talented choreographers and dancers, new connoisseurs and just spectators, but its popularity will never disappear, because dance is immortal.

Ballet is an art form in which the creator’s vision is embodied through the means of choreography. A ballet performance has a plot, theme, idea, dramatic content, libretto. Only in rare cases do plotless ballets take place. In the rest, dancers must convey the feelings of the characters, plot, and action using choreographic means. A ballet dancer is an actor who, with the help of dance, conveys the relationships of the characters, their communication with each other, the essence of what is happening on stage.

History of the emergence and development of ballet

Ballet appeared in Italy in the 16th century. At this time, choreographic scenes were included as an episode in a musical performance, an opera. Later, already in France, ballet was developed as a magnificent, sublime court performance.

October 15, 1581 is considered to be the birthday of ballet throughout the world. It was on this day in France that the Italian choreographer Baltazarini presented his creation to the public. His ballet was called "Cerce" or "The Queen's Comedy Ballet". And the duration of the performance was about five hours.

The first French ballets were based on court and folk dances and melodies. Along with musical scenes, the play also included conversational and dramatic scenes.

Development of ballet in France

Louis the 14th contributed to the growth of popularity and flowering of ballet art. The court nobles of that time gladly took part in the performances themselves. Even the radiant king received his nickname “The Sun King” because of the role he performed in one of the ballets of the court composer Lully.

In 1661, Louis the 14th became the founder of the world's first ballet school - the Royal Academy of Dance. The head of the school was Lully, who determined the development of ballet for the next century. Since Lully was a composer, he determined the dependence of dance movements on the construction of musical phrases, and the nature of dance movements on the nature of the music. In collaboration with Moliere and Pierre Beauchamp, the dance teacher of Louis the 14th, the theoretical and practical foundations of ballet art were created. Pierre Beauchamp began to create the terminology of classical dance. To this day, terms for designating and describing basic ballet positions and combinations are used in French.

In the 17th century, ballet was replenished with new genres, such as ballet-opera and ballet-comedy. Attempts are being made to create a performance in which the music organically reflects the storyline, and the dance, in turn, organically flows into the music. Thus, the foundations of ballet art are laid: the unity of music, dance and drama.

Since 1681, participation in ballet performances has become available to women. Until that time, only men were ballet dancers. Ballet received its finished form as a separate art form only in the second half of the 18th century thanks to the stage innovation of the French choreographer Jean Georges Novera. His reforms in choreography assigned an active role to music as the basis for a ballet performance.

Development of ballet in Russia

The first ballet performance in Russia took place on February 8, 1673 in the village of Preobrazhenskoye at the court of Tsar Alexander Mikhailovich. The originality of Russian ballet is shaped by the French choreographer Charles-Louis Didelot. It affirms the priority of the female part in dance, increases the role of the corps de ballet, and strengthens the connection between dance and pantomime. A real revolution in ballet music was made by P.I. Tchaikovsky in his three ballets: The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty. These works, and behind them the productions, are an unsurpassed pearl of the musical and dance genres, unmatched in the depth of dramatic content and the beauty of figurative expressiveness.

In 1783, Catherine the Second created the Imperial Opera and Ballet Theater in St. Petersburg and the Bolshoi Kamenny Theater in Moscow. On the stages of famous theaters, Russian ballet was glorified by such masters as M. Petipa, A. Pavlova, M. Danilova, M. Plisetskaya, V. Vasiliev, G. Ulanova and many others.

The 20th century saw innovation in literature, music and dance. In ballet, this innovation manifested itself in the creation of dance - plastic dance, free from the techniques of classical choreography. One of the founders of modern ballet was Isadora Duncan.

Features of classical choreography

One of the main requirements in classical choreography is inverted leg positions. The first ballet performers were court aristocrats. All of them mastered the art of fencing, which used twisted leg positions to allow better movement in any direction. From fencing, the requirements for turnout moved into choreography, which was a matter of course for the French courtiers.

Another feature of ballet, performing on the toes, only appeared in the 18th century, when Maria Taglioni first used this technique. Each school and each dancer brought their own characteristics to the art of ballet, enriching it and making it more popular.