Marius Petipa

We’ve all heard the music from the famous Nutcracker during the holidays. The famous ballet is an annual favorite among many people. However, the work that goes on behind the scenes is extensive, and not always known to audiences. Dancers work hours on end to become better at their art. Some dancers, however, are not born with the “perfect dancer body.” Anna Pavlova, one of the most famous and revered ballet dancers, had to overcome the obstacles she was born with. Anna Pavlova was rejected for…

story, others prefer for it to be a picture of music. Males originatly dominated the stage in the early years of ballet , it was when Marie Taglioni , performed in Rober le Diable , that ballet took a turn to the more articic airy feel. (Met) Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov choreographed three of the most famous ballets in history which are still performed today in the 1890s they are The Sleeping Beauty , The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Modern Dance was a reaction against ballet. It was a movement…

in love and gets married. The captivating story of the Sleeping Beauty (Princess Aurora) involves multiple elements that all add to the success of the performance in their own unique way, which create a wonderful work of art. This is precisely why Marius Petipa’s choroeogrphy is considered to be at the top of the spectrum when it comes to classical ballet. More specifically, these elements include Tchaikovsky’s musical talent which sets the tone for the performance, the vibrant costume design…

Anna Pavlova was born on February 12, 1881 in St. Petersburg, Russia. After she attended the Imperial Ballet School she made her own company debut in 1899 and she quickly became the prima ballerina. Her breakthrough performance was in The Dying Swan in 1905 which became her signature role. Contracting double pneumonia while she was on tour Pavlova died in 1931. Anna’s active imagination and love of fantasy drew her to the world of ballet. Looking back to her childhood she described her budding…

creating new looks and different theatrical illusions. The popularity of ballet increased in Russia, and, during the end of the 19th century, Russian choreographers including many composers went the extra mile. Marius Petipa’s The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, by Petipa and Lev Ivanov,are all beautiful representations of a classical ballet in its best complete art form. The main purpose was to display classical technique — pointe work, high extensions, precision of movement and…

On a snowy night in 1892, The Nutcracker (originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Balletmaster Lev Ivanov) made its first appearance at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. With a dazzling original score by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and classical ballet choreography, The Nutcracker became a holiday tradition in the United States a few years after its first full-length American production by dancer/choreographer Willam Christensen for the San Francisco Ballet on December…

How has Ballet influenced culture? Background information Ballet is an artistic movement that is performed by ballerinas wearing specific costumes. It can be telling a story which express feelings and thoughts. It was originally started in the 15th century, ballet was performed in the Italian Renaissance court. Noblemen and women learnt the steps and movements from the dancing masters, then they participate in the performance with the music in celebration events in the court. A century later, an…

Vaslav Nijinsky was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer born March 12, 1889 in Kiev, Ukraine. In the world of ballet, Nijinsky was known as the greatest male dancer of the early 20th century. He gained his popularity and recognition for his intense commitment to characterizations, artistry, and extreme focus on techniques. Those achievements were gained within the time span of nine years—compared to other artists of that time, it took decades or even after their career for their work to be…

In two totalitarian societies, Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany, politics and the arts were prevalent. In both countries, a strict one-ruler government was formed in the 20th century. However, through these dictatorships, citizens in each country were able to connect to the history of dance. Dancing helped to entertain and also advanced political propaganda. While dance was famous in Russia under Lenin and Stalin, dance in Germany was not as revered as Russian ballet, especially during the time of…

part of the Ballets Russes, which is known as “…the most renowned company in the history of ballet.” After the 1920s, Russia's ballet relapsed under Stalin’s rule to the conventional forms of a more traditional ballet choreographer known as Marius Petipa. Petipa was known for creating challenging routines for the dancers to dance to. Petipia is famous for how he ran his classes and his technique used in each dance. As a result of the relapse, Stalin would change the storylines of a couple…