Tips for Teachers and Dancers
The Rakes Progress Ballet is a short ballet done in six scenes. It was first performed by Vic-Wells Ballet at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre on the 20th of May 1935. The Choreography for The Rakes Progress was done by Ninette de Valois and the scenery and costumes by Rex Whistler after Hogarth. William Hogarth was the … Read more
Let’s look at the life and times of Dame Ninette De Valois and the influence she had over ballet in the early 1900s. One of the greatest dancers and choreographers of her time, Ninette de Valois not only danced at the royal court, but she was also the first-ever Director of The Royal Ballet. Dame Ninette … Read more
Hope in a Ballet Shoe is a book that I just recently finished reading. I really enjoyed this book as it was a true account of dancer Michaela DePrince and her struggles as a child coming out of war-torn Sierra Leone and being adopted by Elaine and Charles DePrince, who were part of an American Family. … Read more
Les Biches Ballet is a one act ballet choreographed by Nijinska in a neoclassical style. The music is by Poulenc and the Decor by Marie Laurencin. Most of the music is choral and if you watch the ballet below this post you will hear that it sounds almost operatic. Les Biches Ballet was first performed by … Read more
Let’s face it we have all heard of the famous Vaslav Nijinsky, but I wonder how many of you know that his sister, Bronislava Nijinska was also a very talented dancer and choreographer? Although Bronislava Nijinska is often identified as the sister of the celebrated Vaslav Nijinsky, she was a major artist in her own right … Read more
If you Google ‘Nicholas Brothers Tap Dancing’ you will see these brothers are considered the greatest tap dancers of their time. The Nicholas Brothers Tap Dancing is a sight to behold as you can see in this video below: Aren’t they amazing? Their performance in the musical number “Jumpin’ Jive” (with Cab Calloway and his orchestra) featured … Read more
Did you know that the Firebird Ballet Story was taken from an old Russian Folktale called The Magic Glowing Bird? This post contains some affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Here are some Firebird Story Books that may interest you if … Read more
La Boutique Fantasque Ballet is a one-act ballet that was first performed by Ballets Russes in Alhambra Theatre, London on the 5th of May 1919. This ballet is also known as The Magic Toyshop or The Fantastic Toyshop. The choreography was done by Leonide Massine and the music by Rossini. Massine and Lopolova were the cancan … Read more
Are you a ballet dancer who is thinking about taking ballet dancing to the next level as a possible career? Are you wondering if you have the perfect ballerina body type for this? As you probably already know, ballet is a visual art, and the more aesthetically pleasing your body is the better you will … Read more
Vaslav Nijinsky Biography Vaslav Nijinsky is one of the most famous male ballet dancers to ever have graced our planet, so that is why I couldn’t have a ballet blog without at least having a Vaslav Nijinsky biography somewhere on it. Even though we have only the testimony of eye-witnesses and the frozen images of … Read more