History of Ballet PDF

History of Ballet Guided Notes 1. The word “ballet” and the word “ball”; the party, not the toy, are derived from the Italian word ballare, which means “to dance.” 2. It was during the Italian Renaissance that ballet was first contriv...

History of Ballet Guided Notes 1. The word “ballet” and the word “ball”; the party, not the toy, are derived from the Italian word ballare, which means “to dance.” 2. It was during the Italian Renaissance that ballet was first contrived. It all started around the year 1500 and “ballet” became a popular entertainment device. 3. The first “Era” of Ballet was The Renaissance Era. 4. In these early days of ballet, dancers wore heavy costumes that included many layers of heavy silks embroidered together. The dancers also wore masks, pantaloons, head dresses that were heavy and jewelry that weighed them down. 5. The dances then consisted of tiny jumps, slides, curtsies, gentle turns, and strolls. 6. French choreographer Jean Baptiste Lully, is said to have defined the five positions of the feet. 7. The next “Era” of ballet was The Baroque Era. 8. It was in the Baroque Era when troupes began to merge opera, ballet, and music together. This was the era when ballet began to tell a tale. 9. In 1661, King Louis XIV of France founded the Académie Royale de Musique et de Danse, establishing Paris as the center of academic ballet. 10. Académie Royale de Musique et de Danse, is still operating today as the Paris Opera Ballet. 11. The art of Ballet can trace its origins to the early seventeenth century. 12. Early Ballet dances were designed principally for the entertainment of the aristocracy, rich costumes, scenery, and elaborate stage effects were emphasized. 13. The proscenium stage was first adopted in France in the mid-1600s, and professional dancers made their first appearance… 14. At first all the dancers were men, and men in masks danced women's roles. 15. During the 1700s ballet reformed more and more to what we know it as today. 16. Ballet d’action--Dances in which the movements of the dancers are designed to express character and assist in the narrative instead of props and costumes. 17. The Romantic Era marked the rise of the ballerina as a central part of ballet. 18. Ballerinas began wearing Pointe shoes in the mid-1800 but shoes had no support. Pointe shoes were made famous by ballerina Anna Pavlova in the 1900s. 19. Tutu is a skirt made of a net fabric called Tulle. It allowed the dancers to show their legs and feets on stage. 20. It was during the Classical Period that expressiveness in one’s performance became important. 21. From the Classical Period, rose the use of emotions and character to tell the story and less of a dependence on costumes. 22. Tutus are at this point, getting shorter. During this period, tutus came to just above the knees. 23. Founded in Paris in 1909 by Russian benefactor Serge Diaghilev, the company combined Russian and Western traditions with modernism. 24. Ballet Russes injected the ballet world with renewed vitality, presenting the form, not as a relic of the past, but a vibrant art happening in the present. 25. Ballets Russes now presented work that was very Russian. 26. Anna Pavlova was regarded as one of the finest classical ballet dancers in history. 27. Vaslav Nijinsky: Dancer and choreographer often cited as the greatest male dancer of the 20th century. 28. Originally called the Sadler’s Wells Ballet established 1931, Renamed Royal Ballet in 1949 by Frederick Ashton who had been the principal choreographer for Sadler’s Wells. 29. George Balanchine: One of the greatest and most prolific choreographers in ballet history. 30. Founded The School of American Ballet in 1933 and the company in 1934. 31. The company is called New York City Ballet. 32. Balanchine is regarded as the Father of modern ballet. 33. The First Native American Prima Ballerina is Maria Tallchief. 34. American Ballet Theatre was launched in 1939. 35. A Russian dancer, choreographer cited as one of the greatest ballet dancers in history is Mikhail Baryshnikov. 36. What are 5 Ballets that can still be seen today? The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Giselle, & Four Temperaments. 37. Out of all the videos you watched (including Ballet Today), which one did you enjoy the most and why? I preferred Swan Lake because it looks more elegant and also the costume looks cute.