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La Sylphide
Considered one of the first "white ballets, or ballet blanc". Choreographed by Phillipe Taglioni and was performed by his own daughter Marie Taglioni. -
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
He worked with Petipa to compose music for Swan Lake (1877), Sleeping Beauty (1889), and The Nutcracker (1892). -
Giselle
Giselle was choreographed by Jean Coralli. Jules Perrot was responsible for the choreography of the role Giselle, danced by Carlotta Grisi. -
Coppélia
Arthur Saint-léon choreographed his greatest ballet, Coppélia. He died 3 months after its premiere. The story is about a love triangle between Swanilda, Franz, and a life-size doll named Coppélia. -
Diaghilev dies
Sergei Diaghilev, The founder of the Ballet Russes, dies. -
Resurrection begins
Wasily de Basil and Rene Blum named their new company Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo. George Balanchine became the dance master/principle choreographer. -
First performance
The company had their first performance and critics said "Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo was the authentic air to Diaghilev's Ballet Russe" -
"baby ballerinas"
Balanchine had an idea to make young dancers the stars. They chose 3 dancers, ages 12-13, to be these young stars. They became known as the "baby ballerinas". -
Balanchine is kicked out
Basil and Blum push out Balanchine secretly -
Leonide Massine is in
After dropping Balanchine, Basil and Blum hire Leonide Massine to replace him. He introduced the symphonic orchestra to ballet and created stronger lead roles for male dancers. -
Massine Era of Ballet
The Massine Era of ballet at the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo began. -
First American tour
Now in America, Sol Hurok booked their first American tour. -
American dancers in the company
They begin to hire american dancers but changed their names to make them sound Russian. -
Performed for 3 million people
By this pointe, The company had performed for 3 million people! -
Blum and Basil split
Wasily de Basil and Rene Blum did not see eye to eye which lead to Blum resigning from the company. Massine kept the name, Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo so Basil renamed his company The Original Ballet Russe. -
Both companies are ready to make big debut.
In London, The Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo and The Original Ballet Russe make big debut. -
Massine looses all rights to his choreography
When Massine lost his rights to his choreography, he had to create 3 new enormous ballets. -
David Lichine
Basil had a problem replacing Massine, but soon hired David Lichine as principle choreographer. Lichine and Massine became rivals and tried stealing dancers from each other. -
Back in London
By 1939 both companies are back in London. -
Basil in Australia
Basil took his company to Australia and for 7 months filled up the theaters. -
Sol Hurok American tour
Hurok chooses Massine's Ballet Russes de monte-Carlo to go on another American tour. -
War is declared
World War II begins and both companies take a boat to America. -
Hurok severed his ties with Basil
Hurok severed his ties with basil declaring him as one of the most difficult people to work with. Basil took his company on a Latin American tour. -
Agnes de Mille
Ballet Russes de Monte-Carlo hired Agne de Mille, and American choreographer and that began the "true American ballet". She choreographed Rodeo. -
Broadway!
Ballet crossed over to broadway and George Balanchine was the choreographer. -
Last Performance
Basil's company had its last performance in November of 1948.
