From Petipa to Balanchine
Classical Revival and the Modernisation of Ballet
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Book Description
In this rich interdisciplinary study Tim Scholl provides a provocative and timely re-evaluation of the development of ballet from the 1880s to the middle of the twentieth century. In the light of a thoughtful re-appraisal of dance classicism he locates the roots of modern ballet in the works of Marius Petipa, rather than in the much-celebrated choreographic experiements of Diaghilev's Ballet Russe.
Not only is this the first book to present nineteenth- and twentieth-century ballet as a continuous rather than broken tradition, From Petipa to Balanchine places works such as Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphides, Apollo and Jewells in their proper cultural and artistic context.
The only English-language study to be based on the original Russian soures, this book will be essential reading for all dance scholars. Written in an engaging and elegant style it will also appeal to anyone interested in the history of ballet generally.
Table of Contents
1 Russian ballet in the late nineteenth century 2 Sleeping Beauty: Ballet-féerie as Gesamtkunstwerk 3 Ballet Ruse: The Dying Swan 4 Crisis in the academy: The death of the maiden 5 Two Apollos 6 Bodies and buildings
Author(s)
Biography
Tim Scholl
Reviews
'In addition to its great value for setting Russian ballet in this thoroughly researched, historical context, Scholl's book is important for stirring up questions that need to be pondered. Dance history can use such constructive provocation.' - Dance Chronicle