Ballet+Dance

=Ballet Dance=


 * Ballet** is a type of [|performance dance], that originated in the [|Italian Renaissance] courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in [|France] and [|Russia] as a [|concert dance] form. The early portions preceded the invention of the [|proscenium] stage and were presented in large chambers with most of the audience seated on tiers or galleries on three sides of the dance floor. It has since become a highly [|technical form of dance] with its own [|vocabulary].

It is primarily performed with the accompaniment of classical music and has been influential as a form of dance globally. Ballet has been taught in [|ballet schools] around the world, which use their own cultures and societies to inform the art. Ballet dance works (ballets) are [|choreographed] and performed by trained artists, include [|mime] and [|acting], and are set to [|music] (usually [|orchestral] but occasionally [|vocal] ). It is a poised style of dance that incorporates the foundational techniques for many other dance forms. This genre of dance is very hard to master and requires much practice.

It is best known in the form of late [|Romantic ballet] or [|Ballet Blanc], which preoccupies itself with the female dancer to the exclusion of almost all else, focusing on [|pointe work] , flowing, precise acrobatic movements, and often presenting the dancers in the conventional short white French tutu. Later developments include [|expressionist ballet], [|neoclassical ballet] , and elements of [|modern dance].

History
Main articles: [|History of ballet] and [|Timeline of ballet] [|Harlequin] and [|Columbina] from the mime theater at [|Tivoli Gardens], [|Copenhagen, Denmark]. The history of ballet began in the [|Italian Renaissance] courts of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries as a dance interpretation of [|fencing] [// [|citation needed] //]. It quickly spread to the [|French court] of [|Catherine de' Medici] where it was developed even further. The creation of classical ballet as we know it today occurred under [|Louis XIV], who in his youth was himself an avid dancer and performed in ballets by [|Pierre Beauchamp] and [|Jean-Baptiste Lully].

In 1661 Louis founded the [|Académie Royale de Danse] (Royal Dance Academy) which was charged with establishing standards for the art of dance and the certification of dance instructors. In 1672, following his retirement from the stage, Louis XIV made Lully the director of the Académie Royale de Musique ( [|Paris Opera] ) in which the first professional [|ballet company], the [|Paris Opera Ballet] , arose. [|[5]] This origin is reflected in the predominance of [|French] in the [|vocabulary of ballet]. Despite the great reforms of [|Jean-Georges Noverre] in the eighteenth 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 [|First World War] by a Russian company: the [|Ballets Russes] of [|Sergei 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 had a strong influence on broader concert dance. For example, in the [|United States], choreographer [|George Balanchine] developed what is now known as [|neoclassical ballet]. Subsequent developments now include [|contemporary ballet] and [|post-structural] ballet, seen in the work of [|William Forsythe] in Germany.

Classical ballet
Main article: [|Classical ballet] Classical ballet is based on traditional [|ballet technique]. There are variations relating to area of origin, such as [|French ballet], [|Danish Bournonville ballet] , [|Italian ballet] and [|Russian ballet] , although most ballet of the last two centuries is ultimately founded on the teachings of [|Carlo Blasis] [// [|citation needed] //].

Other well-known classical ballet styles include the [|Paris Opera Ballet School] Method, Russian Method, Italian Method, Danish Method, [|Balanchine method], [|Cecchetti method] , and [|Royal Academy of Dance] and [|Royal Ballet School] Methods. Classical ballet adheres to these rules:
 * A step called 'plié' is often used and is where both legs are bent at the same time.
 * Everything is turned out except when playing more unusual characters e.g. The Beatrix Potter Ballet's frog for which the legs may be turned in
 * When the feet are not on the floor, they're pointed except when playing unusual characters (as above) for which the feet may be flexed.
 * When the leg is not bent, it's stretched completely or put behind in a semi-classical position where the leg is slightly bent, but not completely.
 * Posture, alignment, strength, balance, feeling and flexibility are vital for becoming a classical ballet dancer.

Neoclassical ballet
Main article: [|Neoclassical ballet] [|Neoclassical ballet] is a ballet style that uses traditional ballet vocabulary but is less rigid than the classical ballet. For example, dancers often dance at more extreme tempos and perform more technical feats. Spacing in neoclassical ballet is usually more modern or complex than in classical ballet. Although organization in neoclassical ballet is more varied, the focus on structure is a defining characteristic of neoclassical ballet. Scene from Act 4 of [|Swan Lake], [|Vienna State Opera] , 2004 George Balanchine brought modern dancers in to dance with his company, the [|New York City Ballet]. One such dancer was [|Paul Taylor], who, in 1959, performed in Balanchine's //Episodes//. Balanchine worked with modern dance choreographer [|Martha Graham], expanding his exposure to modern techniques and ideas. During this time period, Tetley began to consciously combine ballet and modern techniques in experimentation.

Tim Scholl, author of //From Petipa to Balanchine//, considers [|George Balanchine] 's //Apollo// in 1928 to be the first neoclassical ballet. //Apollo// represented a return to form in response to [|Serge Diaghilev] 's abstract ballets.

Contemporary ballet
Main article: [|Contemporary ballet] A ballet dancer Arms in [|Cecchetti's] "Spanish fourth" position. [|George Balanchine] is often considered to have been the first pioneer of contemporary ballet through the development of //neoclassical ballet//. One dancer who danced briefly for Balanchine was [|Mikhail Baryshnikov], an exemplar of Kirov Ballet training. Following Baryshnikov's appointment as artistic director of [|American Ballet Theatre] in 1980, he worked with various modern choreographers, most notably [|Twyla Tharp]. Tharp choreographed //Push Comes To Shove// for ABT and Baryshnikov in 1976; in 1986 she created //In The Upper Room// for her own company. Both these pieces were considered innovative for their use of distinctly modern movements melded with the use of [|pointe shoes] and classically trained dancers—for their use of "contemporary ballet".
 * Contemporary ballet** is a form of dance influenced by both [|classical ballet] and [|modern dance] . It takes its technique and body control using abdominal strength from classical ballet, although it permits a greater range of movement that may not adhere to the strict body lines or [|turnout] set forth by schools of ballet technique. Many of its concepts come from the ideas and innovations of 20th century [|modern dance], including floor work and turn-in of the legs. This style is generally danced barefoot.

Twyla Tharp also worked with the [|Joffrey Ballet] company, founded in 1957 by [|Robert Joffrey]. She choreographed //Deuce Coupe// for them in 1973, using pop music and a blend of modern and ballet techniques. The Joffrey Ballet continued to perform numerous contemporary pieces, many choreographed by co-founder [|Gerald Arpino].

Today there are many contemporary ballet companies and choreographers. These include [|Alonzo King] and his company, [|Alonzo King's Lines Ballet] ; [|Complexions Contemporary Ballet], under the direction of Dwight Rhoden; [|Nacho Duato] 's [|Compañia Nacional de Danza] ; [|William Forsythe] , who has worked extensively with the Frankfurt Ballet and today runs [|The Forsythe Company] ; and [|Jiří Kylián] , currently the artistic director of the [|Nederlands Dans Theatre]. Traditionally "classical" companies, such as the [|Kirov Ballet] and the Paris Opera Ballet, also regularly perform contemporary works

Ballet Choreographers
Ballet has probably the longest and most researched/documented history of all dance forms to date. The below links will help you begin exploring the world of ballet and provide you with some direction for possible legendary choreographers to study from within this genre.

[|Ballet History - Wikipedia] View Information from the Wikipedia entry on Ballet Dance within our Wiki.

The below history archives and links detail the development and growth of the American Ballet Theatre in New York, one of the most prominent ballet companies in American history. Many of the innovative designers of ballet have come from ABT.

[|American Ballet Theatre - History]

George Ballanchine Bio & Career media type="youtube" key="0VCDfThwTaY" height="315" width="560"
 * George Ballanchine **

@http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnes_de_Mille media type="youtube" key="8PGkJkpK1yU" height="315" width="420"
 * Agnes de Mille**

[|Nureyev Bio & Career] media type="youtube" key="C88u6_IJf4w" height="315" width="560"
 * Rudolf Nureyev**

[|William Forsythe Bio & Career] media type="youtube" key="uQdZBOVYLdI" height="315" width="560"
 * William Forsythe**

= media type="youtube" key="cwQoEjv8f4E" height="315" width="420"  =