Northwest Ballet is one of the few academies to offer Character dance training. This fall, our character students are studying the Bulgarian dance, "Bucimis", and a peasant dance from the ballet Coppelia.
Character dance is an important skill for the student of ballet. Character dance take the flavor of folk dance and combines it with ballet technique. In virtually all classical ballets, there is an Act which features Character dancers.
The first full-scale ballet was staged in Paris in 1581. The ballet was called “Le Ballet Comique de la Reine“, which means “The Comic Ballet of the Queen”.
What is the Prima Ballerina Assoluta? It is a title awarded to the most notable female ballet dancers. It is a rare honor for a ballet dancer to be recognized as a Prima Ballerina Assoluta.
“The ballet needs to tell its own story in such a way it can be received without having to be translated into language.” - Twyla Tharp
Back in the 15th century in Italy, ballet dance was a form of entertainment in the courts. It was performed with simple movements and masks. The performances used to appear alongside operas before becoming an art form of its own.
Marie Taglioni was a famous ballerina during the Romantic Period of ballet. Her father Filippo, was the court ballet master in Vienna. He designed a rigorous training program for her to be ready to be seen by the sophisticated Viennese audiences. He first choreographed the ballet, La Sylphide, with Marie as the leading dancer.
Copplia is considered one of the greatest comic ballets of the 19th century. It was originally choreographed by Arthur S. Leon in 1870, and was restaged by Marius Petipa in 1884. This ballet is an audience favorite to this day.
Jean Georges Noverre (1727-1820) was the creator of the "ballet d'action", which today we would call, The Story Ballet. He was made "master of the ballet" for the Paris Opera at the request of Queen Marie Antionette.
Select Classes are Still Available for Enrollment. Call 847-476-6407 Today for Details!
Northwest Ballet will be holding classes as usual on Columbus day...today.
King Louis XIV, also known as “Sun King”, loved to dance and often participated in dance performances until he became too “fat”! Interestingly, even his nickname came from Ballet dance, where he appeared as a “King of the Sun”.
Your body performs its best in a relaxed state. So, before every ballet dance performance, take a few deep breaths and clear your mind. Consider doing meditation for a few minutes before you begin to move.
Ballet is a perfect way to introduce your child into the world of dance. Ballet builds strength, discipline, focus, and the ability to work with others. Other forms of dance can be added once the students has a firm grasp of ballet technique.
The Swan Lake ballet by Giscard Rasquin and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky which took place more than a hundred years ago is still being performed today. Moreover, its choreography is almost kept the same as it was in its original form.
Stretching every day will help make your body more flexible. This will improve your line, ease of movement, and help prevent injury. However, it is important no to over-stretch as this, too, can lead to injury.
Marie Taglioni was one if the first ballerinas to popularize dancing en pointe. After Marie Taglioni's retirement, a group of fans purchased her old ballet slippers for 200 rubles. They then, cooked and ate her shoes
Nobles and royals along with some dancers used to perform in early ballets at royal French courts. King Louis XIV, King of France from 1643 to 1715, was considered a great ballet dancer.
During the 1960's Margot Fonteyn, of The Royal Ballet of London, partnered with Rudolf Nureyev who had recently defected from the Soviet Union. Although Nureyev was 20 years younger than Margot, they made a breathtaking couple. Their partnership set the ballet world on fire.
Margot Fonteyn, one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century, danced for the Royal Ballet of London for over 40 years. She admitted that she did not have the elevation or extension of some other ballerinas of her time. What she did have was clear, articulate footwork, beautiful line and the incredible ability to balance, that came through hard work and perseverance. Her exquisite musicality and expressive performances endeared her to audiences the world over.
Marius Petipa, the Ballet Master, of the Russian Imperial Ballet for over 20 years, choreographed some of the most famous ballets still done today...Don Quixote, La Bayadere, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Sleeping Beauty.
The first arts academies were opened in France by Louis XIV. He began a ballet and music academy - the Académie Royale de Danse and the Académie Royale de Musique.
Contemporary ballet is a type of ballet that draws its inspiration from diverse modern dance styles. It allows choreographers and dancers to experiment with classic ballet in new ways.