Petipa and the Pancake! 1889

Petipa has created a masterpiece with a Tchaikovsky score, the ballet "The Sleeping Beauty" is finally a hit. The mix of unrealistic and realistic characters, corps work and solos in combination with the music and scenery created a magical show. 

While the men jumped and turned around the stage you could see their strong muscular legs in tights and they still appeared in character in their jackets that helped to distinct who they are, and their character. The females have made another step up in the costumes, and their skirts took another step too! The long flowy tulle is now shortened for the principal roles. The tule is now in a flat circle coming out from the hips revealing the whole leg. Now we can see every articulation and movement without it being hidden by layers of tulle. 

The romantic tutu and long dresses haven't been erased completely though! Don't throw them away yet, they are still being used in the waltz scenes and ball scenes. The mix of the two has really added diversity and allows the principals and soloists to stand out on stage. 

Check it out:

The boys are back! 1826

It seems like the female has been stealing the spotlight from the men in our world of Ballet, but some boys are about to change that!

August Bournonville, a danish dancer with the Paris Opéra is opting for simple practical practice garments in dance. Men are no longer seen in long loose trousers, instead they are sporting knee breeches and silk hose. Because these long trousers are gone technique is of the upmost importance, any mistake can be seen, and can be corrected to make a better dancer with less faults! Also Bournonville has a slipper of his own! They are quite stylish black slippers and have a white, V-shaped vamp in the front. This V-shape gives the impression of a long pointed ballet foot, the ideal look! 

Just look at these men:

Giselle a masterpiece. 1841

Carlotta Grisi is a star! 

Last night I saw Giselle, the most wonderful of all the Romantic Ballets I have seen thus far. The story, the set, the lighting, the choreography, everything as a whole made the production wonderful.

But, as always, my focus was on the exquisite costumes! 

Perrot's choreography had a focus on delicate port de bras, effortless foot work and quick jumps. The romantic tutu could not have fit the ballet better.

When Carlotta lifted her leg the skirt would float into the air and linger as she moved onto the next movement. Her upper body had some freedom to move and be expressive but it still displayed a beautiful detailed bodice complimenting the tulle skirt beneath. The head piece was simple so no to get in the way of turning or jumps. 

I was in awe! You have seen more of the ballerina then ever before, but without the shortened skirt you wouldn't be able to see the pointe work.

The costumes of the first act were just as wonderful as the willis tutu's in the second act. They resembled peasant dresses of the era while still being moveable to show off the phenomenal corps work. 

Dancers on the Up and Up! 1830

Up and up on their toes that is. The stunning Marie Taglioni has created yet another standard for dancers to strive to, dancing on their toes! Marie has been seen balancing and elevating to the tips of her toes for brief moments of time. This "pointe work" is being done by adding extra fabric to the tips of the ballet slippers. Because of this it seems like the ballet skirts and layers or tulle are getting shorter and shorter to show off the feet.

Take a look at Marie:

Ouch! The price of grace and beauty is sore toes. 

Watch out, here comes the BALLERINAS!

I didn't know female dancers could do so much! 1735

Watch out world, there are two star ballerinas competing for the spotlight! If you haven't noticed, females seem to be taking over the ballet world by storm. Francoise Prevost paved the way in Lully's "Aty's" Opera in 1699. Her precision and grace really showed what ballet was all about. She even brought in mime and dramatics that date all the way back to the Greeks. When she began teaching and the Opera's school two other dancers Prevost trained made their way up to the top of the charts!

Marie Salle 

The expressive dancer, with dramatic performances filled with leaps and technique

Marie Camargo 

The dancer with endless energy and virtuosity as well as strong technique

The one thing these dancers have in common is their change on what the Ballerina used to wear! Because these two women are such wonderful dancers, they needed to show it off!

Marie Camargo's new trend!
Ditch those heeled hard shoes and wear slippers, its much easier to show of your feet. Also it makes large jumps and quick foot work easier! Now that you have feet to show off, it's time to hike up your hemlines ladies! Camargo has been seen performing in a calf-length skirt. When your skirt is just above the ankles the audience won't be able to tear their eyes away, 

It seems a bit scandalous, but women are taking the ballet world by storm, and they are making changes along the way. Now with soft slippers and shorter skirts ladies can show off their skills. 

Use these ladies as an example:

Check out Salle's neck line! Throw out those ruffs and let your head and shoulders to be free and dance with you! 

Louis and Lully

This week while in France I got to witness ballets newest fad, the court ballet.  This performance had men and women dancing together and demonstrating more advanced footwork than the previous eras of ballet.  In order to show off this new type of dancing, the women wore dresses and skirts that showed off their ankles and 1"-2" heels.  The tops of their dresses were form fitting while the skirt puffed out with an emphasis on the hips.  The men wore tight pants tucked into boots with long jackets that went down to about their knees.  Both of these costumes were created so that the audience could see that intricate steps that the dancers were doing.  Many of them were wearing elaborate and tall hats that did not allow them to use their port de bras and made the dancers utilize their posture. Although they seemed a little scandalous and revealing to me, I think that they were necessary to show off all the advances that King Louis XIV and Lully made to the art of ballet. 

The dances were spectatcular sights and the costumes were extravagant, especially the headwear that King Louis XIV wore. He also introduced positions of the feet that I observed every dancer had practiced, and good thing they did because the feet and ankles were the highlight of the show because of the costumes worn. 

The Renaissance

A Rebirth, 1581

I'm not sure about you, but I was so excited for Catherine De Medici to marry Henri II! Catherine is so invested in the arts, especially in dance! I think her idea to use dance as a way to take our minds off of war and hard times! Her other great idea was hiring Balthasar de Beaujoyeaulx as the court dance master. 

Recently I was lucky enough to be an honored guest at a Magnifique by Beaujoyeux. Le Ballet Comique de la Reine was stunning! It was a grande celebration with thousands of guest and hours of entertainment for the marriage Duc de Joyeaux and Margerite of Lorraine!

I of course, could not stop staring and the costumes of the dancers! The movement that was choreographed was stunning, the dancers went in and out of complex formations and lines all while surrounded by beautiful music and scenery. Now, back to the COSTUMES! 

As you can see in these photos, the dresses were quite large, and not only big but also very heavy! Most of the quick footwork came from the men because you had a clearer view of their feet. The women's movement was much more restricted, especially in the upper body because of the corsets and ruffs. Even the men wore very tight fitting and restrictive coats. They did not use much of their upper body or head while moving across the dance floor. That's why there was so much focus on the patterns and lines the dancers created. This way they could show off the dresses they were wearing as well as show off their dancing skills.

Overall the ballet was wonderful and so were the costumes! 

Peasant Love and Dancing

I arrived in Greece yesterday and was greeted by the peasants joyfully dancing throughout the village.  They were dancing with one another while singing and their friends and family were clapping along beside them.  They were wearing every day attire because these sorts of events happen spontaneously and they don't plan their outfits accordingly.  The women wore long, low cut floor length dresses that were cinched around the waist while the men wore tight pants and tunics.  Their everyday attire allowed them to move freely and dance with one another.  

Also while in Greece, I was able to go see a Court Dance.  This type of dancing was much more formal and based off the principals of courtly love and chivalry.  The costumes they wore had a similar pattern to what the peasants wore, however their costumes were more intricate and formal.  They had more embellishment and the many of the women had long coats on top of their dresses.  The dancing did not require much leg work because the costumes were large and heavy and you could not see their legs. It focused more on gestures and patterned movement because most of the body was covered. 

MASKS

It's 450BC, what are you wearing?

What’s in the season?

MASKS!

As I travel around Greece I can't help but marvel at all the amazing theaters being built! Have you seen the Theatre of Epidaurus? It's amazing! I can only imagine how many wonderful Tragedies and Comedies are going to be performed in it!

Check it out:

Epidaurus

When I saw a play there I couldn't help but notice all the beautiful masks. Then I thought, to be the ideal person you want to be, reach perfection, and be worshiped for beauty the secret must be...MASKS!

Greek theatre has really taken off, and the stars of the theatre are all wearing masks. Have you seen a show yet? If you haven’t then it’s a must, but it you have I’m sure you took a notice to the masks of the chorus.

For the next festival of Dionysus show up like one of the chorus members.

Check out these awesome masks: 

 Greek Theatre is all about theatrics and performance these days, why not add some of that to your life!