Ballet

"Ballet has grown in popularity in recent years but, for many, it remains a sometimes mystical world of movements and expressions not understood by any but the most serious Balletomane}."

"Ballet emerged in the late 15th-century Renaissance court culture of Italy as a dance interpretation of fencing, and further developed in the French court from the time of Louis XIV in the 17th century. This is reflected in the largely French vocabulary of ballet. Despite the great reforms of Noverre in the 18th century, ballet went into decline in France after 1830, though it was continued in Denmark, Italy, and Russia. It was reintroduced to western Europe on the eve of the World War I by a Russian company: the Ballets Russes of vSergei Diaghilev, who came to be influential around the world. Diaghilev's company came to be a destination for many of the Russian trained dancers fleeing the famine and unrest that followed the Bolshevik revolution. These dancers brought many of the choreographic and stylistic innovations that had been flourishing under the czars back to their place of origin."

"In the 20th century, ballet continued to develop and has had a strong influence on broader concert dance."

"Ballet dance works (ballets) are choreographed, and also include mime, acting, and are set to music (usually orchestral but occasionally vocal). Later developments include expressionist ballet, and elements of Modern dance."

"Classical ballet is the most formal of the ballet styles; it adheres to traditional ballet technique."

"Neoclassical ballet is a ballet style that uses traditional ballet vocabulary but is less rigid than the classical ballet."

"Contemporary ballet is a form of dance influenced by both classical ballet and modern dance. It takes its technique and use of pointe work from classical ballet, although it permits a greater range of movement that may not adhere to the strict body lines set forth by schools of ballet technique."

"Tchaikovsky’s first ballet, Swan Lake is considered by many to be one of the greatest classical ballets of all time. Its romance and beauty has allowed the classic ballet to mesmerize audiences for more than 100 years."

"The Sleeping Beauty was the first successful ballet composed by Tchaikovsky. However, it was no more popular than his first ballet, Swan Lake. The production was heavily criticized for being too lavish. Within three years, however, the ballet gained enough popularity to be performed at least 50 times."

"Giselle is considered one of the great Romantic ballets, Giselle was first performed in Paris in 1841."

"The Nutcracker is more than 100 years old and was first presented at the Mayinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia."