Lecture 6 Flashcards
neoclassicism
another strand of modernism in 20th century
what was neoclassicism a resurgence of
classicism
characteristics of classicism
order control formality harmony balance restraint rationality
where did the characteristics of classicism first emerge
in the writings of the ancient greek philosophers
how were the writings of the ancient greek philosophers spread
through a number of written texts called the classics
- iliad, odyssey
what did the classics represent
elite literature (but not the popular literature at the time) - seen as a standard worthy to be passed on to future generations
when was classical ballet
end of 19th century
what is the end of the 19th century referred to as
the classical period in ballet
who was the primary classical choreographer
petipa
what did petipas choreography express the ideals of
classicism (ancient greek): control, order, balance
appeal of petipas ballets
visual rather than emotional
ex of petipas works
swan lake, sleeping beauty
what does classical ballet appeal to
the eye rather than to your heart or emotions
who was diaghilevs last choreographer
balanchine
what did balanchine shift to
back to classical ideals and the era of neo-classicism
who did balanchine follow in the footsteps of
petipa and his classical ballet tradition
- believed he was following in his footsteps anyways
t or f: balanchine saw himself as revolutionary
false, saw himself instead as an heir to petipas legacy
what was the distinct style that balanchine brought to classical ballet
his works are instantly recognizable
he extended the vocabulary of ballet
did balanchine rebel against his mentors
no
when was balanchine invited to NY
when diaghilev died
- invited to create ballet in america
balanchines school and company
school of american ballet and american ballet company
how were balanchines school and company patriotic
because they had american in the name
when did balanchines school and company close
during WWII
when did balanchines school and company later become
NY city ballet
t or f: NY city ballet still performs balanchines works
true
balanchines serenade
first dance balanchine choreographed in America
- originally to teach his dancers how to be on stage
who was more influential than any other choreographer in the 20th century in instigating a new era of classical ballet
balanchine
what were balanchines ballets about
the movement itself
- line, shape, design, rhythm
t or f: balanchines ballets were abstract
true, he didnt use props or stage sets (or when he did they were very abstract)
balanchine did not believe the function of dance was to
be emotionally expressive
why was balanchine drawn to the american ballet
their angelic unconcern toward emotion
why did balanchine see classicism as enduring
because its impersonal
how did balanchine want his works appreciated
on an aesthetic level, rather than emotional psychological or personal
- wanted people to appreciated his work like we appreciate nature
what was balanchine most concerned with
the medium of dance
- its form, movement
what stories did balanchines works tell
aside from his earliest works, he didnt tell stories in his ballet
- they were non-narrative
what didnt balanchine use in his ballets
character development
story
dram
why didnt balanchine think his ballets needed stories
thought that a man and a woman onstage was enough of a story, the audience could bring their own stories to that
what did balanchine think about shakespeare’s worked being recreated in dance
didnt think they should - thought they should be left in the theatre
4 characteristics of balanchines works
subject matter
movement style
choreographic form
movement qualities
movement style vs movement qualities
style: what the dancer is doing
qualities: describes what the dancer is doing
balanchines movement style
- exaggerated extensions and length of the body and bodies stretched as far as they can go
- virtuosic and difficult
- rapid and intricate footwork
- distortions of the body
did balanchine prefer to choreograph on men or women
women, especially those with extremely long legs and overall height
what is balanchine credited with creating essentially
the ideal body type of the female ballerina: thin and tall
did the ideal body type of the ballerina catch on right away
no, still curvy dancers in europe
balanchines distortions of the body
ankles pushed forwards
flexed wrists and feet
hip rolls
choreographic form
how the dancers are placed on the stage and how they move on the stage, the structure and visual form, and music
balanchines choreographic form
geometric, symmetrical, architectural
- closely connected the music
- visual moments where the dancers stopped in certain arrangements
balanchines dancers and their connection to the music
never created work before he heard the music
- music came first and dancing second
- dances follow and echo the music
- built his choreography around the structure of the music
how did balanchine describe music
as a floor for dancing
how is movement qualities different from movement style
uses more poetic descriptions
balanchines movement qualities
cool fluid calm restrained formal detached ordered controlled precise virtuosic
why is balanchine considered to be a neoclassical choreographer
because his work continues the traditions of classicism in ballet but with a unique 20th century style
video: dance of the century - abstract ballet
narrative about balanchines life
- clips of performances of his work throughout
