The Imperial Russian Ballet: Romantic to Classical Ballet

Flashcards covering key concepts, figures, and terms related to the history and development of Russian ballet.

Russia's Dance Tradition

Strong folk dance tradition with influence from French courts since the 17th century.

Jean Baptiste Lande

First ballet teacher in Russia who founded the St. Petersburg Ballet School in 1738.

Marius Petipa

Choreographic genius who revolutionized ballet in Russia and created numerous famous ballets.

Bolshoi Theatre

Major ballet company based in Moscow, representing the term 'big' in Russian.

Maryinsky Theatre

Prominent ballet company located in St. Petersburg, formerly known as Kirov.

Grand pas de deux formula

A dance structure featuring a ballerina and her male partner through various sequences.

Swan Lake

A landmark ballet with various endings, showcasing themes of love and deception. Act I & III choreographed by Petipa, II & IV by Ivanov in 1895. Was a memorial for Tchcofski Two different endings

The Sleeping Beauty

Petipa’s most celebrated ballet, featuring regal themes and music by Tchaikovsky.

Lev Ivanov

Assistant to Petipa known for choreographing the first production of The Nutcracker.

Tchaikovsky

Famous composer whose works were integral to Russian ballet, including The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty.

Impact of Russian Ballet

In the early 1900s, Russian ballet was seen as the finest in the world despite perceived choreography stagnation.

Alexander Gorsky

Choreographer known for restaging Petipa's works with more real-life elements.

Michel Fokine

A radical reformer trained in St. Petersburg who emphasized unity in ballet choreography. Chontroversial