Throwback Thursday and Diaghilev
Russian impresario Serge Diaghilev (1872-1929) changed dance
forever with his groundbreaking dance company The Ballet Russe (1909-1929).
This company brought together some of the best dancers, artists and
composers of the day, producing works that thrilled – and sometimes shocked –
audiences.
Diaghilev was not a dancer or choreographer himself (he was
a law student), but he was a genius when it came to recognizing and nurturing
talent in others. Those he worked with
included: Picasso, Stravinsky, Matisse
and Nijinsky, among many others; and thus The
Ballet Russe became a veritable breeding ground for innovation.
Despite the fact that his company revolutionized ballet,
Diaghilev’s Ballet Russe, like so
many dance companies today, was often on the verge of bankruptcy. Yet somehow he managed to keep it afloat,
leaving a legacy that endures. Today
ballet students are taught by teachers who were taught by teachers who were
either in, or influenced by, The Ballet
Russe.
Without Diaghilev, ballet would be very different. Would it exist at all?
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:
“Serge Diaghilev revolutionized ballet, yet he wasn’t a
dancer or choreographer.”
Link of the Day:
Quote
of the Day:
“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others
and the stories they share about you.”
- Shannon L. Alder
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