Htqe.2023.48

https://doi.org/10.22364/htqe.2023.48 | 604-615 | PDF

Character Dance Genre in the Creative Work of Ballet Master M. Petipa and Ballet Art Education

Katrīne Martinsone-Škapare
University of Latvia, Latvia

Abstract. This research delves into the historical development of the character dance genre in ballet education. By analyzing ballet literature from Latvia and Europe published over the past decade, the study aims to create a theoretical outline of character dance history. This will provide a wider understanding of the genre and serve as a professional teaching tool for academic dance performers and pedagogues. The research focuses on French ballet master M. Petipa’s contribution to the development of ballet art, particularly his character dance “writing” as a means of enriching the choreographical language of classical ballet. The study also examines the interpretation of foreign dance elements and movement composition in classical dance. The enduring value of M. Petipa’s classical ballet works, including Pharaoh’s Daughter, Don Quixote, Bayadere, The Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker, Swans’ Lake, and Raymonda, are reviewed in the study. The research identifies essential pedagogical principles for the development of ballet education, including the consideration of character dance genre. Ultimately, this study will provide a methodical learning material of a historical period for the professional growth of character dance ballet performers and to preserve M. Petipa’s legacy in classical ballet culture.

Keywords: ballet education, character dance, classical ballet, divertissements, M. Petipa.

The author of this passage is Katrīne Martinsone-Škapare. She graduated from Riga Choreography High School and is a professional ballet dancer. She obtained both a professional bachelor’s and master’s degree in Choreography from Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (JVLMA). Her professional experience has allowed her to work at Riga Academy of Pedagogy and Management and JVLMA for many years. Since 2006, she has been teaching classical dance and non-national stage dance at the Latvian Academy of Culture Latvian College of Culture.

In: Human, Technologies and Quality of Education, 2023. Proceedings of Scientific Papers = Cilvēks, tehnoloģijas un izglītības kvalitāte, 2023. Rakstu krājums
Riga, University of Latvia, 2023. 796 p. Ed. L. Daniela
https://doi.org/10.22364/htqe.2023
ISBN 978-9934-36-116-6