 Born1519 to powerful Medici family of Italy  Orphan as a child  Raised in a convent where she learned Latin and Greek.  Married at age 14 to Duke Henry II of Orleans, the future King of France.  Brought the delights of ice cream, artichokes, cosmetics and ballet to France The Beginning Catherine Medici

 1 st ballet; performed in France  Created for wedding of Catherine Medici’s sister  “comique” refers to “drama”  10,000 ppl went; lasted 6 hrs.  No stage; audience sat in galleries above performers.  Elaborate costumes & scenery; set the model for royal court entertainment throughout Europe. Ballet Comique de la Reine (1581)

 Danced by nobles not professionals.  Court dances used geometric patterns.  Costumes were typical of the era (ruffles, plumes, big skirts, etc….)  Men and boys played all roles including the roles of females. The First Ballets

 King of France; was a dancer and an influential patron of the arts.  Famous for role as the Sun King (Le Roi Soleil).  Instrumental in establishing dance as a profession for both men and women.  He favored themed ballets based on Greek myths with dancers portraying gods and goddesses. King Louis the XIV

 Established by King Louis the XIV  Females started being used for the female roles.  In 17th century, ballet performances started to be held in theatres instead of ballrooms and halls.  The King summoned Pierre Beauchamps to serve as ballet master for the Academie Royale.  Beauchamps also established the 5 positions of the feet. Academie Royale de la Musique

Pierre Beauchamps

 The Academie Royale de la Musique became known as the Paris Opera Ballet in the next century  The World’s oldest ballet company.  The Paris Opera produced the first prima ballerina: Mille de la Fontaine.  Claude “Jean” Balon was another famous dancer during this era. Known for his huge jumps. Paris Opera Ballet

 Dancers expanded their technique by adding beats, turns, and leg extensions.  Ballet themes moved from mythological to realistic with humanistic elements. Ballet in the late 18 th Century

 Female dancers took on the leading roles, and appeared as fairies.  They would rise onto the tips of their toes, enhancing the ballerinas’ fairy-like quality. Romantic Era Ballet

 Famous ballerina during Romantic period.  Danced with the Paris Opera Ballet.  Most known for her work on the ballet: La Sylphide.  Transformed ballet with her use of pointe shoes.  Became so famous that fans bought a pair of her pointe shoes & then put them into a sauce, which they ate. Marie Taglioni

 A two act form (1 st act, intermission, 2 nd act)  A plot centered on love or a love triangle  Dramatic action of characters, characters were both realistic and fantastic (not fantastic as in Ms. Eveler but as in fantasy or fairytale or fake)  Characters supported by a chorus (called corps de ballet)  Music supported the setting of the mood  Typical costumes for females incorporated wings, long flowing skirts, and pointe shoes.  Famous ballets of this era were La Sylphide, Giselle, Pas de Quatre. Elements of Romantic Era Ballet

 Occurred in last half of the 19 th century in Russia  Although born in France, Marius Petipa danced with Russian Ballet & quickly became a famous dancer and choreographer in St. Petersburg, Italy.  His famous ballets include: Don Quixote, La Bayadere, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Swan Lake.  Enrico Cechetti, also Italian, worked under Petipa and is known for the development of a daily ballet curriculum as he created a logical progression of class exercises (ballet barre & center work where 1 step leads to another). The Classical Ballet Era

 A hierarchy of dancers, character dances  A grande pas de deux.  The ballerina and other female dancers used tutus  Men used tunics, peasant shirts and vests  Famous classical ballets include: Coppelia, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake. Elements of Classical Ballet

Modern Day Pointe Shoes

Ballet Company Dancer Rankings  Tutus for dancers vary depending on their level & their role. The more advanced dancers have shorter, more firm tutus that aren’t necessarily made of tule.  Corps de ballet – lowest rank in a company; mostly females; many stay at this level their entire career  Character artists – Corps dancers who perform roles with a lot of acting as well as dancing  Soloist – perform solos; often understudy principal dancer; occasionally perform principal role when principal can’t; some companies have senior or 1 st soloist rankings;  Prinicipal dancer – star of company; leading roles; as many men as women prinicipals; sometimes perform with other companies as guest artists