Neo Classical Ballet

Les Ballet Russes is widely regarded as the most significant ballet company of the 20th century. Serge Diaghilev organized this company of dancers from the Imperial Russian Ballet and brought them to Paris in 1909. They were received so well that these dancers formed what was known after as Les Ballet Russes. Serge Diaghilev’s achievements can be described by this quote, an excerpt from his obituary “In 1909 he first produced…the Russian ballet, and in this medium found the precise expression of his genius. Indeed, he completely changed the ballet, and by perfectly co-ordinating the several arts that comprise it, he created a new art.”(Barran 2009) Michel Fokin was the choreographer for many of Les Ballet Russes’ performances and referred to as the father of modern ballet; he introduced the principles that challenged the aesthetic of classical ballet. 1929 was the final season for Les Ballets Russes; they performed in London and Paris. After the death of Diaghilev, the company dissolved and was later reestablished by Colonel Wassily de Basil and René Blum. They later split into two companies due to artistic differences "The Original Ballet Russe" who toured in Europe and "Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo" which toured in the United States.

Just like Les Ballet Russes revolutionized modern ballet; the choreography, movement vocabulary, music and design other places in the world were going through their own revolution. Not only were there many periods of war during the life time of Les Ballet Russes as well as their child companies (WWI, WWII, Russian revolution, the Great Depression), there were also many technological advances at the time. The invention of the zipper, creation of the army tank 1910, the first television in 1925, t...

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...he same themes are present in Ballet that could be found in North American or European life, but even things like the aesthetic values can be reflected. "Shown in the long line of lifted, extended bodies, in the total revealing of legs, of small heads and tiny feet for women, in slender bodies for both sexes [...] To us this is tremendously pleasing aesthetically." (Kealiinohomoku 1970) So pleasing, that after the second world war the schools that were opened in Canada and the United States did not lack students and these students certainly were not lacking talent. In fact, by the end of 1958 there was funding in place to open the first full time academic and ballet school in Canada so that students would not have to choose between their dance career and their education.

It is very easy to see the ripple effect that was created by one influential dance company.