EXPERIENCE OF PERIODISATION OF RUSSIAN BALLET IN THE CONTEXT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF BALLET THEATRE IN RUSSIA

Cai Xiujuan

The development of Russian (Soviet and Russian) ballet is strongly connected with the history of Russia, with each of the historical and political, as well as social and cultural periods characterised by certain stages, achievements and conditions of formation of ballet art in general. From its birth in the 17th century to the present day, the history of ballet theatre has undergone an arduous and, in many respects, brilliant evolvement, showing the world an example of independent development. At the beginning of the 20th century Russian ballet theatre was experiencing an extraordinary rise and began to dominate the world, which has continued for many decades until the present day. The article is devoted to the important issue of periodisation of the history of Russian ballet in its correlation with the development of ballet theatre in general. The vast repertoire of Russian ballet includes the best achievements of the world ballet art of the 19th-20th centuries, preserving the accumulated traditions. The history of the formation of these traditions is linked to the constant striving for new achievements resulting from the development of the mankind.

Keywords:Russian ballet, historical and cultural context of ballet art, periodisation, chronology of Russian ballet