Exam No. 3

Question 0

how did the ballet Russes realize Noverre’s dream?

Answer 0

executed Noverre’s concept of unity.

Question 1

Describe the choreography of the Ballet Russes ?

Answer 1

It went against traditional ballet and ballet formulas. Broke tradition.

• it had dances that reflected essence of that idea.
• taking out extra (ex. divertissements) and using essential.

Question 2

who was Serge Diaghilev and how was he important in the development of ballet?

Answer 2

• NOT a dancer or choreographer.
• He was a theatrical promoter
• Intelligent company director and artistic producer.
• Special eye for putting amazing talents together.
• Proved that ballet was a serious/eloquent art and not frivolous diversion
• truly made the stale ballet of the early 20th century a major modern art form

Question 3

Who were the 5 choreographers of the Ballet Russes ?

Answer 3

1) Michel Fokine
2) Vaslav Nijinsky
3) Leonide Massine
4) Bronislava Nijinska
5) George Balanchine

Question 4

what are the dates of the original Ballet Russes ?

Answer 4

1909- 1929 (Diaghilev’s death)

Question 5

Who were some of the lead dancers of Ballet Russe?

Answer 5

Michel Fokine, Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, Tamara Karsavina, Mikhail Mordkin.

Question 6

Who were some of the artists in Ballet Russe?

Answer 6

Picasso, Matisse, Braque, Benois. etc

Question 7

Who were some of the costume designers of Ballet Russe?

Answer 7

Coco Chanel and Picasso.

Question 8

Who were some of the composers ?

Answer 8

Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Richard Strauss, Satie. etc

Question 10

Who is Michel Fokine? what did he contribute ?

Answer 10

• 1st Choreographer!
• Talented dancer and choreographer.
• Had a vibrant fashion sense (wore turbans and feathers )

-Produced: The dying swan, Scheherazade, Petrouchka, Spectre de la rose
-His ballets were tightly organized.
freed ballets from long,unnecessary divertissements. HE -ALWAYS FOUGHT AGAINST TRADITION.
-each dance had its own idea staying true to theme and each work was completely diff

Question 11

Who was Vaslav Nijinsky?

Answer 11

• 2nd Choreographer
• Finest dancer of all time in Ballet Russe
• Amazing stage presence and technique
• Was Diaghlevs LOVER, and he fired Fokine just to have him as a choreographer.
• Ahead of his time but produced 2 choreographies:
  1. Afternoon of a faun
  2. The rite of spring.

Question 12

What American dancer inspired Fokine, Nijinsky, and Pavlova?

Answer 12

Isadora Duncan, she was the American Barefoot dancer.

Question 13

Who was Leonide Massine? What did he contribute ? What did he choreograph?

Answer 13

• 3rd Choreographer!
• diaghlev highly educated him to be the great next performer and choreographer for the company
• his choreography was witty and sophisticated.
• He played cobler in “The red shoes”
• Picasso was a great influence

-Produced “Parade” based on cubism by Picasso and “The three cornered hat” spanish feel, idea.

Question 14

Who was Bronislava Nijinska? What did she choreograph?

Answer 14

• 4th Choreographer!
• Nijinsky’s sister
• choreographed only 2 works for company: “Les noces” and “Les Biches” .

Question 15

Who was George Balanchine? Discuss his contributions?

Answer 15

• 5th choreographer!
• brought ballet to the US in a special way.
• he choreographed 10 productions for the company but only 2 survived: “Apollo” and “The prodigal son”
• He loved women and couldnt seperate profession/personal life he married many of his lead dancers.

Question 16

How did Lincoln Kirstien contribute to the development of ballet in America?

Answer 16

A harvard graduate and from wealthy parents.

• Invited Balanchine to America and to bring Ballet to America.
• Help establish company financially.
• Almost like a Diaghilev for the Ballet Russes, but the difference is that he didn’t make artistic decisions like Diaghilev, he only financially pushed and supported the company; Balanchine made the artistic calls.
• “Serenade” was first successful ballet dance.

Question 17

Name 4 American Ballet dancers of note in the 19th century?

Answer 17

1. Augusta Maywood- born NY, age of 14 left to Europe and never came back.
2. Mary Ann Lee- orphaned,acrobat,singer,burlesque, also went to Europe but came back. 1st American “Giselle”, failing health @ 24 stopped dancing.
3. Julia Turnbull- replaced Mary Ann.
4. George Washington Smith- undisputed male star, retired and started own dance school.

Question 18

Name 4 American Ballet Companies of the 20th century?

Answer 18

1. The New York City Ballet
2. American Ballet Theater (ABT)
3. Joffrey Ballet
4. Dance Theater of Harlem

Question 19

What dance is considered the beginning of the modern social dance?

Answer 19

The Waltz:
sybolizes the beginning of modern social dance because it changed social dancing from the “Minuet (OPEN COUPLE) to “Watlz( CLOSED COUPLE)

Question 20

Describe the Waltz?

Answer 20

-Time of great innovation
- means revolve
-it derived from turning dances of german peasants.
-it was considered scandalous and difficult because couples
had to face each other.
-it had a magical and romantic feel to it, to be able to synchronize with another human being in a non sexual erotic way.

Question 21

Who are some famous composers of the Waltz?

Answer 21

1. Johannes Brahms
2. Frederic Chopin
3. Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky

Question 22

What is the Charleston, Lindy Hop, and Jitterbug?

Answer 22

they are all JAZZ social dances from the 1920’s:
charleston-sideway kicks and extreme speed
lindy hop- has no “hop” in it, its smooth and solid,COMBO of kicks, swings,steps.
jitterbug- like lindy hop tooken by white folks influenced by african american.

Question 23

The twist was a popular dance in the ____ time period?

Answer 23

The twist was a popular dance of the the 50’s. A sexual liberation of 60’s nobody followed or led.

Question 24

Name several popular dances in the 1960’s?

Answer 24

The twist, mashed potatoe, the swim, the jerk.