The Ballets russes and beyond : music and dance in belle-époque Paris

Belle-époque Paris witnessed the emergence of a vibrant and diverse dance scene, one that crystallized around the Ballets Russes, the Russian dance company formed by impresario Sergey Diaghilev. The company has long served as a convenient turning point in the history of dance, celebrated for its revolutionary choreography and innovative productions. This book presents a fresh slant on this much-told history. Focusing on the relation between music and dance, Davinia Caddy approaches the Ballets Russes with a wide-angled lens that embraces not just the choreographic, but also the cultural, political, theatrical and aesthetic contexts in which the company made its name. In addition, Caddy examines and interprets contemporary French dance practices, throwing new light on some of the most important debates and discourses of the day.

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A musicologist and fastidious researcher, Caddy (Univ. of Auckland, NZ) offers a lucid recounting of the dance scene in Belle Epoche Paris. She uses the Ballets Russes, founded by Serge Diaghilev in Russia in 1907 and regarded by many as the greatest company of the century, as a turning point in the history of dance. Celebrated for its innovative modernist choreography and groundbreaking productions, the company serves as an excellent platform for the author's fresh perspective on the meaning of dance in this period. Henri Matisse created La Danse I, a study for a 13-foot mural in 1909 during the Belle Epoche period, and Caddy believes it functions metaphorically as the spirit of dance in this period. As the Ballets Russes devoted serious attention to the connection of music and dance, the company encouraged a collaborative work ethic. Choreographer Michel Fokine speaks of his creative interplay with Igor Stravinsky on L'Oiseau de feu in the book's introduction, and this creative way of working is outlined throughout. Caddy opens up new areas for debate in her contribution to the literature on this mesmerizing company. Not easy reading, but of special significance for scholars interested in the period and company. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals. L. K. Rosenberg Miami University

1 Introduction: Le Génie de la danse

2 Ballet at the Opéra and La Fête chez Thérèse

3 Nijinsky's Faune revisited

4 Metaphors of invasion: the Ballets Russes and the French press

5 Beyond and behind Le Coq d'or

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Table of Contents