14/07/2020
Did you know how much French Revolution period has influenced and even allowed the emergence of what was called « romantic ballet »? Did you know that without George Danton and Charlotte Corday, there would be no Swan Lake, Nutcracker, and even no Giselle? If not, this is for you:
The end of the 18th century marked by the Revolution is also characterized by the apparition in the old aristocratic society of young women and men, called Les Incroyables and Les merveilleuses: in response to the revolution, they refused to change their way of life. Distinguished by their audacious outfits (➡️ swipe to see), men wore tight pants, colorful half-coats, while audacious women showed bare hands, naked chest, wore sandals, had their hair braided around their heads like ancient sculptures.
Of course they went to the fancy balls. They danced a new dance called the "waltz", but it was slightly different from the more formal waltz that appeared in the ballrooms of the Congress of Vienna in the 19th century. The Parisian waltz was calmer, more faithful to its folk origins and had an erotic connotation (in theory, only married women were allowed to dance it). Due to the popularity of this dance, choreographers include its steps in their productions, generating elements of romantic ballet.
Ballet is becoming popular and accessible to all. In France, the salaries of choreographers have been increased, their working conditions have been improved, which has a general positive impact on the development of ballet in the XIX century.
The costumes also change: corsets and all heavy elements disappear, freeing movements, which induces significant progress in technique: dancers have the opportunity to perform multiple pirouettes. Jumps are higher, dancers are lighter, which allows the development of pas de deux, which inspired Marius Petipa and so many others romantic choreographers.
#балетдлявзрослых #балетдлявсех #студиятанца #балетдляначинающих 🇫🇷