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Romeo and Juliet

Classical Ballet

 

What Makes it Classical Ballet 

  • The height of the classical ballet era was during the late 1800s, in particular, the 1890s in Russia (Au).
  • Classical ballets became longer and extended beyond two acts — some could be as long as five or six acts
    (Steeh).
  • Turn-out of the legs and hips is an essential principle giving the dancer freedom of movement in every direction (Grant).
  • Grace and expression of slow movement showing precision and exactness are considered fundamental perfection (Karthas).
  • Key characteristics of classical ballets include strict rules for body placement in harmonious controlled movements (Steeh).
  • Classical ballet choreographers adhered to complicated sequences that showed off demanding steps, leaps, and turns, thus the tutu was shortened to see the flexibility and footwork (Wade).
  • Realistic performances with an enchanting storyline (Wade).

Ballet Production

 

 

Choreographer: Leonid Mikhailovich Lavrovsky (19051967) 

Leonid Mikhailovich was born in the city of Leningrad(now St. Petersburg)  in 1905. He is a ballet choreographer, most famous for choreographing the first full version of Sergei Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Choreographer: Galina Sergeyevna Ulanova (1910-1998)

Galina Ulanova was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer. Born in Leningrad (now St.Petersburg) in 1910, the only daughter of two dancers at the Maryiinsky Theater(St. Petersburg).  She played the lead role of Juliet and brought many ideas to the choreography of this part. She is seen in many circles as one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Choreographer: Konstantin Mikhaylovich Sergeyev (1910-1992)

Konstantin Sergeyev was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) in 1910. Konstantin was a dancer, artistic director, and choreographer for the Kirov Theatre. He played the role of Romeo in the 1940 premiere of Romeo and Juliet for the Kirov Theatre as well as helping with the choreography. 

Mime:

Mime is used a great deal so that the audience can get a clear idea of the story. The dancing expresses the emotions and feelings and the miming tells the story. Mime and dance create a constant variety in the action.

In ballet, there is a standard “mime” language that is used by everyone. Here’s how to act out some words in mime:
Beautiful/Handsome—circle your face/draw hand down face
Dance—circling hands overhead
Love—two hands-on heart
Marry—point to your ring finger
Princess—hold your hands over the top of your head like a crown

The ballet as a whole involves many other players working together to create a magical and captivating production. The stage is filled with sumptuous sets and costumes, and the dancers perform every range of steps to the music played by the orchestra.

Here's a list of the players, see if you can find out what each one does.

Choreographers
Composers 
Conductors
Dancers

Designers:
Costume
Lighting
Stage
Sound
Video

Stagecraft:
Lighting
Sound
Make-up/Wigs
Projection
Props
Stage management
Video
Wardrobe

Technical:
Carpenter
Electrician
Stagehand
Spotlight operator

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