A study on the Cultural Character of Russian Ballet

Abstract

The article provides a flow chart for the transitions of the Russian ballet in the time span between the late 17th century to the early 20th century. More than a historical flowchart of the Russian ballet, it confers further detailed understanding of causes and effects which had shaped today's unique Russian ballet. Ballet was never originated in Russia. Ballet was a form of high class dance which was imported from the western European countries in the 17th century. Its initial landing in Russia was promoted by Czar Pyotr I who had ambition to reform Russia into a more civilized as well as mightier state. The ballet was one of his national policy. The initial phase of the newly introduced ballet involved with active absorbing from invited ballet masters and choreographers. The western ballet style was readily accepted as a standard to follow. Ballet institutes such The Imperial Ballet Schools and Theatres were established and mostly centered at the cities St. Petersburg and Moscow with the supports of Russian monarches. As it approached 19th century, the Russian ballet which was originally adapted from other western countries for the purpose of cultural enlightenment of the ruling classes became more specialized. The expression of the ballet with splendor was the essence of all and more or less it became a heritage character of the Russian ballet. However, the recognition of the Russian ballet's true identity as󰡐Ballet Russes' began in the early 20th century. This gaining of the world wide reputation of the Russian ballet owed to the work of Diaglilev along with his many recruited outstanding ballet dancers. They actively performed the so called󰡐neoclassical ballets'or󰡐Ballet Russe'overseas. As a result, the Russian ballet became the origin for the introduction of the neoclassical ballet overseas, particularly in Europe and America. This became meaningful in that the Russian ballet had gone beyond the status for the purpose of the limited cultural revolution. The neoclassical Russian ballet was rather a national symbol of arts. The Russian ballet then experienced vicissitudes of various changes in plots and styles after the socialist revolution in 1917. It was age of political and economical chaos, and there was no leniency for people who desperately sought daily necessities to enjoy the ballet. Worse than it, a large population of critics censured the ballet as an abominable product of the former imperial family and the bourgeois class. The proposal of abolishing the ballet performances was refuted by the very leader of the revolution. The communists, Lenin, Anatorii Luncharsky and others still willing to sponsor the progression of the ballet since they thought the ballet was required to nurture the public. However, the ballet in this time, transformed into a tool to the sociologist ideology. More and more ballets with unrealistic plots were removed and replaced by the ballets with proletarian tastes. In fact, the ballet productions after the revolution were characterized by their emphasis on the heroism and legitimacy to the revolution. On the other perspectives, the Russian ballet during the post revolutionary period was more down-to-earth. The plots and styles focused on detailed storytelling and the psychological representations to the audience. Under the constant support and supervision of the socialist government, the Russian ballet prospered and enabled to capture high quality ballet population. Important of all, the Russian ballet was able to maintain familarity from the general public and continuously be cherished as national heritage. Although the ballet under the influence of the communism brought some downturn of its true artistic purpose, the ballet survived and further prospered among the general public. With the strong will power of Russian ballet masters such as Agrippina Vaganova and others, the Russian ballet was able to retain its classic elements from the past. Thus, a wholistic or a well balanced ballet form emerged. Familiar topics of the classic ballets such as <Don Quixote>, <The Sleeping Beauty>, <The Swan Lake>, <The Nutcrackers> and still others were kept and performed all around world. Therefore, the Russian ballet resumed its artistic essence and was able to derive historical meaning to its ballet since the Russian revolution. After all, the Russian ballet was meant to develop for the purpose of artistic expression, not merely be manipulated for the purpose of socialist ideology.