Ballet & Modern DanceI. What is Romanticism?a. Threw out old conventionsb. No more rigid formsc. Supernatural i. Pursuit of unattainabled. New emotional content and meaningi. Realities of life after French Revolutione. Industrial Revolutioni. Social change and rapid economic growthii. Longing for escape from citiesII. The Romantic Artista. Often politically and socially involved, but distance themselvesb. Interpretation through emotionsc. Bourgeoisie life vs. the artistIII. Caspar David Friedrich “Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog” (1818)IV. William Wordsworth “She was a Phantom of Delight” (1804)SHE was a Phantom of delightWhen first she gleam'd upon my sight;A lovely Apparition, sentTo be a moment's ornament:Her eyes as stars of twilight fair;Like twilight's, too, her dusky hair;But all things else about her drawnFrom May-time and the cheerful dawn;A dancing shape, an image gay,To haunt, to startle, and waylay.I saw her upon nearer view,A Spirit, yet a Woman too!Her household motions light and free,And steps of virgin liberty;A countenance in which did meetSweet records, promises as sweet;A creature not too bright or goodFor human nature's daily food,For transient sorrows, simple wiles,Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.And now I see with eye sereneThe very pulse of the machine;A being breathing thoughtful breath,A traveller between life and death:The reason firm, the temperate will,Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;A perfect Woman, nobly plann'dTo warn, to comfort, and command;And yet a Spirit still, and brightWith something of an angel light.a. Competitions between poets to see who could capture a woman betterb. Other good poets: KeatsV. Romantic Musica. Expression of intense feelingsb. New melodic styles, rich harmonies, dissonancec. Expansion of the symphony orchestrad. NationalismVI. Romantic Balleta. Two major themesi. Mystical/irrational (utopias, fairies, nymphs, etc.)ii. Exotic locales (takes them away from lives…ex: Germany)b. Technological developmentsi. Fog machineii. Curtains open/close between scenesiii. Flying machines (harnesses)iv. Tutu: layers of see-through material – tulle (mid-calf length)v. Pointe shoes: made of Plaster of Paris, used to go on toesVII. The Romantic Ballerinaa. By mid 1840s, strong feeling against male dancersi. Eliminated from corps de ballet (the large group of dancers on stage that dance at the same time)ii. Often women dancing male rolesb. Aristocratic art form to a popular entertainmenti. Themes related more to general publicii. Appealed to the bourgeoisVIII. Giselle (1841)a. Only ballet of Romantic period to survive in continuous performance (there are still other Romantic ballets performed, but not CONTINUOUSLY)b. Created for Carlotta Grisic. Choreographer: Coralli and Jules Perrotd. Score of Giselle: Adolphe Adame. Ploti. Act 11. Set in medieval village on the Rhine2. Characters: Giselle Albrecht & Hilariona. Giselle is a beautiful maiden who loves to dance; Hilarion is a peasant boy who is in love with Giselle and wants to marry her; Albrecht is a prince who is engaged but before he gets married, he wants to go out and “hunt”; Albrecht comes to village dressed as commoner and finds Giselle, the most beautiful maiden he’s ever seen; they fall in love and dance together in public (meaning they’re together/engaged/consummation of relationship); Hilarion is not happy, but starts looking at the commoner and his things – Hilarion calls the hunting party to the village and procession comes, including fiancé ; mother warns Giselle not to dance too much because she has a weak heart; Giselle and fiancé bond – figure out they’re both engaged, and that it’s to the same guy (thanks to Hilarion); Giselle is broken hearted and she dances herself to death; Albrecht runs awayii. Act 21. The Willis – dead virgins wronged by men; if they catch men in the graveyard at night, they dance them to death; wear wedding dress tutus (and veils during the entrance)2. Myrtha – queen of the Willisa. Hilarion and Albrecht go to the cemetery and they’remourning; they catch Hilarion and kill him; Giselle isasked to join the Wilis; she protects Albrecht, and because of that she is forced to go into her grave rather than have a life outside of it with the