The Story In the last years of Petipa’s life, 24 of his ballets were notated for posterity by Vladimir Stepanov and Alexander Gorsky. They were taken out of Russia after the Revolution by Nicholas Sergeyev. He spent the rest of his life mounting these ballets for various companies, notably England’s Vic-Wells Ballet. Sergeyev died in 1951 and…
How did Cecchetti develop his teaching Method ‘The Days of the Week’? From the 1860’s onwards, Italian ballet training advanced virtuosic technique in both men and women. Thanks to improvements in pointe-shoe making, ballerinas such as Carlotta Brianza, Virginia Zucchi and Pierina Legnina dazzled audiences with their daring turns, jumps and balances. The Italian school…
The human being in movement and at rest In everyday life, the human being walks in a natural opposition, very slightly turned out and with his weight somewhat forwards towards the ball of the foot. Whether walking, skipping, running or jumping, everyday life calls for no more turnout, nor even for more balance. Nor do…
Inhabiting the Aerial Plane It is in one way, an apotheosis of the technical ability of the classical trained ballerina to transcend the earthly plane and ascend into that of the aerial. This began 200 years ago with a few, fleeting moments en pointe attempted by the ballerinas of the Romantic Era in slippers that would…
Author’s first glimpse into the world of August Bournonville In 2007, in Paris, Flemming Ryberg and Dinna Bjorn of the Royal Theatre Copenhagen, presented a week of classes in Bournonville technique, repertoire and mime. As an observer with very little practical experience of the Bournonville style, I watched with fascination and delight, revelling in the…
Promotional article for Redondanses, new venture for classical ballet events in Paris set up in 2014 by Marie-Josée Redont, former soloist Paris Opera ballet Promotional article for Redondanses, new venture What is meant by the term “Cecchetti School”? Au Théâtre Maryinskii, en raison des progrès indéniables de chacun de ses élèves, Enrico Cecchetti a finalement…