Character dancers
Encyclopedia
Character dancers play an important part in classical ballet
. Before the nineteenth century, rôles such as peasants and sailors were considered character dancers and often were part of Commedia dell'arte
. Since the early part of the nineteenth century the word character has become associated with folk dance
.
In many classical productions character dancers play important parts, such as von Rothbart in Swan Lake
and Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker
. Some of the Divertimento parts in the original production of the Nutcracker by Marius Petipa
were performed by character dancers and to this day Mariinsky Ballet
preserves the tradition.
Character dancers do not dance en pointe
and instead wear character shoes with heels or soft ballet slippers. Being a good character dancer means to have great understanding of fine elements of various cultures as well as having stamina and passion.
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
. Before the nineteenth century, rôles such as peasants and sailors were considered character dancers and often were part of Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte is a form of theatre characterized by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century, and was responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy of craft"; it is shortened...
. Since the early part of the nineteenth century the word character has become associated with folk dance
Folk dance
The term folk dance describes dances that share some or all of the following attributes:*They are dances performed at social functions by people with little or no professional training, often to traditional music or music based on traditional music....
.
In many classical productions character dancers play important parts, such as von Rothbart in Swan Lake
Swan Lake
Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
and Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
. Some of the Divertimento parts in the original production of the Nutcracker by Marius Petipa
Marius Petipa
Victor Marius Alphonse Petipa was a French ballet dancer, teacher and choreographer. Petipa is considered to be the most influential ballet master and choreographer of ballet that has ever lived....
were performed by character dancers and to this day Mariinsky Ballet
Mariinsky Ballet
The Mariinsky Ballet is a classical ballet company based at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Founded in the 18th century and originally known as the Imperial Russian Ballet, the Mariinsky Ballet is one of the world's leading ballet companies...
preserves the tradition.
Character dancers do not dance en pointe
En pointe
En pointe means "on the tip" and is a part of classical ballet technique, usually practised using specially reinforced shoes called pointe shoes or toe shoes. The technique developed from the desire for dancers to appear weightless and sylph-like and has evolved to enable dancers to dance on the...
and instead wear character shoes with heels or soft ballet slippers. Being a good character dancer means to have great understanding of fine elements of various cultures as well as having stamina and passion.