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on the roots of thingsThe world of ballet is alive, vibrant, vital and constantly evolving, but with its roots firmly planted in traditions going back many centuries. So this area is 'roots'. The Ballet pages provide the context and help to explain how we arrived at where we are today. And tradition is alive and well - and safe in the hands of companies like the Kirov, the Royal Ballet... But healthy roots need constant nourishment to survive, expanding outwards all the time, breathing new life into the body. The early years of the 20th century saw an upheaval in all the arts as new, exotic influences from many different cultures were absorbed. And dance was no exception. Taking its cue from the earth-shattering, pagan rhythms of The Rite of Spring, modern, creative dance was born in those turbulent years. ballet
Le sacre du printemps (the Rite of Spring)Igor Stravinsky's own account of the creation of his revolutionary
ballet and its riotous Paris première. |
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Main picture: Sylvie Guillem in Steptext with the Royal Ballet |
The development of ballet from its courtly origins to the dawn of
the 21st century.
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