-
1738
The Russian School of Theatrical Dance (Imperial Theater) was founded in St.Petersburg -
1909
Serge Diaghilev brought Ballet Russe, his soon to be dance company, to Paris. He selected his dancers from the Russian Imperial Theaters -
1910
Michael Fokine debuted "Firebird". Michael Fokine's other works are Les Sylphides and Petrouchka. -
1911
Diaghilev's "Ballet Russe" was established his official company. -
1929
Diaghilev died. This tragedy left his company without work -
1931
Wasily de Basil and Rene Blum created "The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo". They hired George Balanchine as the Dance Master and Principle choreographer. (It was Balanchine's idea to create the baby ballerinas!) -
1932
The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo's debut. Critics claimed that this company was the "authentic air to Diaghilev's Ballet Russe. The Ballet debuted was Balanchine's, Cotillion. It starred Tamara Toumanova, Tania Riabouchinska, and Irina Boranova. -
1933
George Balanchine came to the US to establish American Ballet Theater (ABT). His dances expressed modern 20th century life and strived to have dancers recognized as athletes. He choreographed for the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo. Blum and Basil knew there was a better choreographer that could reap rich rewards for them, so they secretly pushed Balanchine out and hired Leonide Massine. The Massine Ballet era began -
1934
Massine led "The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo" on their first American tour which Sol Hurok booked! Not much later, Massine and Basil began a feud. This led to Massine winning rights to the company name and Basil beginning The Original Ballet Russe. -
1938
Right before the company debut in London, Massine lost ALL rights to his choreography and was forced to create three new ballets. -
1939
War was declared in Germany and many dancers did not have the rights to flee the country. Out of desperation, both companies joined together on a boat out of Germany, and on the way to America. -
1941
After a dispute between Hurok and Basil, Basil found himself without work in America. Due to this, he had no other choice but leading "The Original Ballet Russe" on a Latin American Tour. -
1944
Ballet made the crossover to The Great White Way, Broadway. George Balanchine choreographed -
1948
With the company financially struggling, Basil chooses, in November 1948, that The Original Ballet Russe would make its final bow. The Ballet de Monte Carlo, however, was reaping rewards in the Hollywood industry -
1960's/70's
Dancers disowned the Soviet Union during the Neoclassical Ballet Era and decided to live in America, thus making the switch to American Ballet.