This paper is to overview the activities of Ballet Russes, which had a revolutionary impact on Russian ballet history and to examine the contribution impact on Russian ballet history and to examine the contribution of Ballet Russes to the improvement ...
This paper is to overview the activities of Ballet Russes, which had a revolutionary impact on Russian ballet history and to examine the contribution impact on Russian ballet history and to examine the contribution of Ballet Russes to the improvement of ballet and modern art history.
Russian ballet began in the 17th century and was developed by many dance performers from overseas who were invited by the Royal Household. However, it was in the early 20th century that Russian ballet achieved worldwide recognition due to contributions by Ballet Russes. The innovative experiments in Russian ballet were not possible without the efforts made by the Pickickians who had profound insights on Russian literature and arts and Diaghilev, the competent show manager who helped the Pickwickians to revolutionize Russian arts. Therefore this paper has focused on the successful innovation of Russian ballet by examining the activities of Ballets Russes per period and its impact on Russian ballet history and other related art genres. The development history of Russian ballet, especially the new socio-cultural changes in Russian ballet between the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, have been examined. The results of the analysis of the background of the birth of Ballets Russes and their activities can be summarized as follows.
Firstly, Diaghilev had a creative and revolutionary idea, which suited to the demands of the era. Ballet Russes was established by Diaghilev and contributed to the creation of a new style of ballet. Secondly, Ballet Russes integrated all innovative modernism artists in the related art genres such as music, stage settings and costumes in order to create a new style of ballet performance. Ballet Russes also placed European ballet in an exclusive position among the world arts in the early and middle 20th century by developing dance as a new aesthetic art form. Thirdly, Ballet Russes, established by Diaghilev, played an important role in promoting Russian arts to Western Europe and has revitalized the desolate European dance industry as well as theaters with a new style of dance.
The results of this research suggests that the successful innovation of Russian ballet is the outcome of the pure passion and the extraordinary creativity of talented artists including their leader Diaghilev and his experimental spirit and anxiety for new styles. Although Diaghilev was not a choreographer or a dance performer, he insisted on his idea that dance is ˝the liberation from inhuman regulations and restrictions in classical culture˝ and the natural expression of emotion. He also contributed to the establishment of ballet as a new form of art, which is based on artistic freedom and aesthetic independence in order to cope with social pressures. The revolutionary and successful activities of Ballet Russes, which represented Russian ballet, have brought innovations not only to Russian dance history but also world ballet history.