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Russian School of Theatrical Dance
In St. Petersburg, Russia, The Russian School of Theatrical Dance was created in 1738. Known as the Imperial Theater, many famous ballet masters taught there. -
Pas de Quatre
The four greatest ballerinas of their time performed the choreography of Jules Perrot in London. They young ballerinas were Lucile Grahn, Carlotta Grisi, Fanny Cerrito, and Marie Taglioni. The appearance of each ballerina was determined by age and was danced in the Romantic Ballet style. -
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Marius Petipa
Marius Petipa, the father of classical ballet, created many famous ballets and worked closely with the composer Tchaikovsky. His most ballets include “Swan Lake”, “Sleeping Beauty”, and “The Nutcracker." -
George Balanchine is Born
This Russian-trained dancer turned choreographer choreographed over 400 ballets, many of which were abstract. He also founded the School of American Ballet and the New York City Ballet. -
Neoclassical Ballet
Neoclassical Ballet, meaning ''new classic'', emerged in the 1920s and grew and evolved into the 20th century. George Balanchine exemplified this new aesthetic. Without the big sets and costumes, Neoclassical Ballet was focused on the dancer's movement. -
Diaghilev dies
Serge Diaghilev dies in Venice, Italy which ends the original company called Diaghilev's Ballet Russe and leaves its dancers without work. Diaghilev established his company in 1911 and it lasted until his death in 1929. -
Resurrection of the Ballet Russe
Wasily de Basil and Rene Blum wanted to keep the company alive even after Diaghilev died so they created a new ballet company called the Ballet Russe de Monte-carlo. -
Baby Ballerinas' Debut
The three young dancers, Tamera Toumanova, Tania Riabouchinska, Irina Boranova, had their first performance in 1932 and became known as the ''baby ballerinas." It was George Balanchine's idea and each girl had a different, unique style. -
Leonide Massine- New Ballet Master
In 1933, George Balanchine was replaced by choreographer Leonide Massine as the new ballet master. George Balanchine would return to the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo 12 years later. -
Ballet Russes de Monte-Carlo head for America
The Ballet Russes de Monte-Carlo travel to America in 1934 thanks to an impresario, Sol Hurok, who booked a tour for them. They had performed for 3 million people by 1935. -
The Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo Split
In 1937, Rene Blum and Wasily de Basil had a falling-out which caused Blum to take Leonide Massine, the ballet master, and start a company without Basil. They got to keep the name, the ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo, but they lost all of the rights to Massine's choreography. -
World War II starts and causes problems for dancers
War was declared on September 3, 1939, which caused the Russian dancers from both countries to leave the country and head to America. They had months without dance rehearsals and then the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo performed the day they arrived in America. -
Original Ballet Russe's severed ties with Hurok
Sol Hurok cut his ties with The Original Ballet Russe company because he didn't get along Wasily de Basil, the director. Without Hurok's connections around America, they found themselves without work in America. -
The Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo's production of Rodeo
Agnes de Mille, an American choreographer, choreographed Rodeo when the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo hired her after they fired Leonide Massine. It was a hit and started the beginning of "true American Ballet." -
Ballet crosses over into Broadway
Ballet crossed over into broadway in 1944 thanks to George Balanchine. He created many Broadways although not all were very successful. -
Demise of The Original Ballet Russe
Wasily de Basil, the director of The Original Ballet Russe, hired new and unqualified dancers after his veterans left for better opportunities which left the company in bad shape. The dancers started leaving one Sol Hurok abandoned the company because of his personal dislike for Basil. The company's last performance was in November of 1948. -
Beginning of Contemporary Ballet Era
Ballet morphed into contemporary ballet by the end of the 20th century. Contemporary ballet is usually an abstract and eclectic style of dance. The ballet companies preserve the classical style but still are able to appeal to a wide audience.
