Tips for Teachers and Dancers
If you are wondering who Dusty Button Ballerina is, there has been quite a bit of bad press coverage of her lately. This bit of ballet history is very recent, unlike a lot of the other history on this website. Dusty Button the ballerina was born on the 6th of June 1989 in Myrtle Beach, … Read more
Cinderella has been a popular story for over a hundred years, but it was only turned into a ballet after 1945, when Sergei Prokofiev finished writing the musical score. The Cinderella Ballet Story has different versions, but the synopsis below is the most popular. Fredrick Ashton was the first person to stage a full-length Cinderella ballet … Read more
Scenes de Ballet is a ballet in one act choreographed by Frederick Ashton. The music was written by Stravinsky and the decor done by Andre Beaurepaire who was a young Frenchman who was heavily influenced by Picasso. This ballet was first performed by Sadler’s Wells Ballet at Covent Garden on the 11th of February 1948. … Read more
Symphonic Variations Ballet is a one-act ballet and it was choreographed by Frederick Ashton. The music was done by César Franck and set to the eponymous music (Variation Symphonies for piano and orchestra). The decor was done by Sophie Fedorovich (who had decorated Ashton’s first ballet twenty years prior – A Tragedy of Fashion), and … Read more
Ashton’s wedding bouquet ballet is a ballet in one act that was choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton. It was first performed by the Sadler’s Wells Ballet at the Sadler’s Wells Theater on the 27th of April 1937. All About Ashton’s A Wedding Bouquet The music and decor for this ballet were done by Lord Berners … Read more
Let’s take a look at the Les Patineurs Ballet, its history, and why it is still being performed to this day. I have always loved watching this ballet as it is lively, fun and the music has some beautiful strong waltzes that have become very popular over the years. I am sure you will recognise … Read more
Facade the ballet is one of those that some of us have forgotten about, as Facade the ballet doesn’t come to mind when you talk about going to the ballet. Swan Lake or Gizelle are more likely to come to mind first. Facade is a ballet done in one act. The Choreography of this ballet was … Read more
This website wouldn’t be the same without an article devoted to Sir Frederick Ashton. He is regarded as the ‘Foundling Father of Britsh Ballet’ and he developed the English Style of ballet dancing. The Life Of Sir Frederick Ashton Doing an article on Sir Frederick Ashton is like writing about the history of the Royal … Read more
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