History of Ballet: Romantic to Ballets Russes

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering key figures, concepts, and ballets from the Romantic era, Post-Romantic decline, Imperial Ballet in Russia, and the Ballets Russes.

Marie Taglioni

The Italian-born Romantic ballerina who epitomized the ethereal, white-tulle ideal in La Sylphide (1832), mastering male technique to transform ballet into a high art on feminine terms.

Fanny Elssler

Austrian Romantic ballerina (1810–1884) famed for her fiery performance of 'La Cachucha' in Le Diable boiteux (1836), known as the 'pagan dancer' in contrast to Taglioni's 'Christian dancer,' who sparked 'Elsslermania' on her US tour.

Lucile Grahn

A major Romantic era ballerina (1819–1907) who became the first Danish dancer to achieve international success.

Fanny Cerrito

Italian Romantic ballerina (1817–1909) who starred at La Scala and London's Her Majesty's Theatre, affectionately nicknamed 'cherry-toes.'

Carlotta Grisi

Italian ballerina and singer (1819–1899) who studied under Jules Perrot and achieved stardom creating the title role of Giselle (1841).

Travesty Dancer

A female dancer who performed male roles (en travestie), allowing female performers to take male roles on stage without triggering the political and social tensions attached to 19th-century male bodies in post-revolutionary France.

Foyer de la danse

A liminal backstage space at the Paris Opera where wealthy male subscribers (abonnés) gathered to view and interact with female dancers.

Lucien Petipa

French ballet master and choreographer, best known for his contributions to the development of ballet in Russia during the late 19th century, and for being the brother of Marius Petipa.

Leitmotiv

A recurring musical theme associated with a particular character, place, or idea in a ballet or opera, often used to convey emotion or narrative.

Giselle

An iconic 1841 Romantic ballet premiered at the Paris Opera with choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, libretto by Jules Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier, and music by Adolphe Adam; Carlotta Grisi

Pas de Quatre

An 1845 narrative-less landmark ballet choreographed by Jules Perrot to music by Cesare Pugni, bringing together four top Romantic ballerinas: Marie Taglioni, Lucile Grahn, Carlotta Grisi, and Fanny Cerrito.

Coppélia, The Girl with Enamel Eyes

An 1870 comic ballet premiered in Paris, choreographed by Arthur Saint-Léon to music by Léo Delibes, starring Giuseppina Bozzacchi as Swanhilda and Eugénie Fiocre playing Franz en travestie.

Emma Livry

A promising Paris Opera ballerina (1842–1863) mentored by Marie Taglioni who died after her tutu caught fire from stage gas lights, having refused chemical flameproofing because it dinged skirt brightness.

August Bournonville

A Danish ballet master and choreographer (1805–1879), known for developing the Bournonville style, which emphasized athleticism, grace, and storytelling through dance, significantly influencing ballet in Denmark and beyond.

Edgar Degas

A French artist (1834–1917) renowned for his paintings, sculptures, and drawings, particularly those depicting ballet dancers, capturing movement and the intimate backstage life of the ballet world.

Charles Didelot

A French dancer and choreographer who studied under Noverre and traveled to Russia in 1801 as dance master at the Imperial Ballet, establishing a foundational system of Russian training.

Enrico Cecchetti

Italian dancer and master teacher at the Imperial School (1887–1902) whose codified training system continued the technical ideas of Carlo Blasis and Giovanni Lepri.

Marius Petipa

French-born choreographer known as the 'father of Classical ballet' who served as ballet master in St. Petersburg for over 30 years, creating over 47 original ballets including The Sleeping Beauty and La Bayadère.

Pierina Legnani

Italian virtuoso ballerina (1868–1930) named Prima Ballerina Assoluta in St. Petersburg, famous for introducing 32 consecutive fouettés and originating the dual role of Odette-Odile in Swan Lake.

Virginia Zucchi

Italian ballerina (1859–1931) recognized for her expressive style and dynamic performances. She was a leading dancer at the Imperial Ballet and often collaborated with prominent choreographers, significantly influencing ballet in Russia.

Mathilde Kschessinska

Russian prima ballerina known for her technical prowess and dramatic interpretations. She was a star at the Imperial Russian Ballet and notably performed in many Petipa ballets.

Olga Preobrajenska

Russian prima ballerina (1871–1962) celebrated for her artistry and teaching. She played a vital role in developing ballet in the early 20th century and influenced many dancers.

Grand Pas de Deux

A structured classical ballet duet consisting of four distinct parts: an Adagio, a Female Variation, a Male Variation, and a fast-paced Coda (Finale).

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Acclaimed Russian composer (1840–1893) whose symphonic scores elevated ballet into a major art form through his masterpieces The Sleeping Beauty (1890), The Nutcracker (1892), and Swan Lake (1895).

Lev Ivanov

Imperial Ballet premier danseur and assistant to Petipa who choreographed key scenes of Swan Lake and took over choreography for The Nutcracker when Petipa fell ill.

The Sleeping Beauty

An 1890 3-act classical ballet produced at the Mariinsky Theatre based on Charles Perrault's fairy tale, featuring choreography by Marius Petipa, score by Tchaikovsky, and Carlotta Brianza as Princess Aurora.

The Nutcracker

An 1892 Imperial ballet set in Directory-era France and drawn from Russian childhood Christmas memories, composed by Tchaikovsky and choreographed by Lev Ivanov/Petipa.

Swan Lake

An 1895 recreated Imperial ballet choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov to Tchaikovsky's score, starring Pierina Legnani in the dual role of Odette/Odile and Pavel Gerdt as Prince Siegfried.

Agrippina Vaganova

Distinguished Russian dancer and pedagogue (1879–1951), known as 'Queen of Variations,' who authored Basic Principles of Classical Ballet (1934) and created the standard Vaganova instruction method.

Ballets Russes

Groundbreaking Russian ballet company (1909–1929) founded by Serge Diaghilev that revolutionized modern art by integrating innovative dancers, avant-garde painters, and modern composers.

Serge Diaghilev

Charismatic Russian impresario and founder of Ballets Russes (1872–1929) who co-founded Mir iskusstva (World of Art) magazine and assembled top artistic talent to revolutionize dance.

Alexandre Benois

Russian artist and designer (1870–1960) who co-founded Mir iskusstva and created influential sets and costumes for Ballets Russes productions like Les Sylphides, Giselle, and Petrushka.

Léon Bakst

Russian artist (1866–1924) who revolutionized theatrical design with opulent, vibrant costumes and scenery for Ballets Russes works like Schéhérazade, Le Spectre de la rose, and L'Après-midi d'un faune.

Mikhail Fokine

Chief choreographer for the Ballets Russes (1909–1914) who pioneered modern ballet through his Five Principles, prioritizing expressiveness, stylistic unity, and psychological content over technical display.

Anna Pavlova

World-renowned Russian prima ballerina (1881–1931) immortalized by her expressive performance in Fokine's The Dying Swan (1905), who later toured globally with her own company.

The Dying Swan

A famous 1905 solo dance created by Mikhail Fokine for Anna Pavlova, set to Camille Saint-Saëns's cello piece Le Cygne, emphasizing spiritual poetry and emotional expression.

Vaslav Nijinsky

Legendary Russian dancer and choreographer (1890–1950) famed for his gravity-defying elevation, who created groundbreaking, modern choreography for L'Après-midi d'un faune and Le Sacre du printemps.

Bronislava Nijinska

Pioneering Polish-Russian ballerina and choreographer (1891–1972), sister of Vaslav Nijinsky, known for her innovative contributions to ballet and choreography, particularly in works like Les Noces and the ballet adaptation of the opera Les Enfants du Paradis.

Leonide Massine

Russian dancer and choreographer (1895–1979) known for his work with the Ballets Russes, celebrated for his inventive choreography and collaborations with composers like Stravinsky and Prokofiev.

Lydia Lopokova

Renowned Russian ballerina (1892–1981), known for her performances with the Ballets Russes and her marriage to British economist John Maynard Keynes, which brought her into the cultural and artistic elite of the time.

Ida Rubinstein

Russian actress, dancer, and promoter of ballet (1883–1960), celebrated for her dramatic performances and collaborations with leading choreographers and composers, significantly influencing the evolution of ballet in the early 20th century.

Adolph Bolm

A Russian dancer and choreographer (1884–1954) prominent in the early 20th century, known for his leadership with the Ballets Russes and innovative stage designs, contributing greatly to the development of American ballet.

Tamara Karsavina

Celebrated Russian prima ballerina (1885–1978) who starred at the Mariinsky Theatre and in Ballets Russes premieres including Firebird, Petrushka, and Le Spectre de la Rose.

Igor Stravinsky

Revolutionary Russian composer (1882–1971) whose avant-garde scores for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes—including Firebird (1910), Petrushka (1911), and Le Sacre du printemps (1913)—transformed 20th-century music.

Le Sacre du printemps

An 1913 avant-garde ballet choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky to Igor Stravinsky's rhythmically complex score, whose premiere provoked a famous theatre riot in Paris.

Schéhérazade

A 1910 sensual one-act Ballets Russes ballet choreographed by Fokine with Bakst designs and Rimsky-Korsakov music, based on the prologue of The Thousand and One Nights.