434 replies to this topic

[Blackswan]

Sorry I must of phrased my question incorrectly I was thinking of the Title Character sorry : (

[Mel Johnson]

Don't worry, it's a common mistake. After all, what do you do with a book called Tristram Shandy, where the title character isn't born until halfway through the book???

[ascballerina]

Name the different lengths of tutu's though the years.

Romantic and classical? Is that the answer you wanted?

[Mel Johnson]

Those are the two mega-categories, but there are a few more.

[Blackswan]

There were a few more era's of skirt lengths etc.. but those are the Major ones so lets just run with that!

How many Prima Ballerina assoluta's are theyre? Name them.

[Mellii]

There are eleven: Pierina Legnani, Mathilde Kschessinska, Alicia Markova, Galina Ulanova, Alicia Alonso, Maya Plisetskaya, Eva Evdokimova, Margot Fonteyn, Anneli Alhanko, Phyllis Spira, and Alessandra Ferri. Hopefully I spelled them all right!

Who founded the Royal New Zealand Ballet?

[Mel Johnson]

Or were there only two, Legnani and Kschessinska, with Olga Preobrajenska as a near-appointee, but she was in political hot water, and couldn't get named without causing problems.

[Blackswan]

The royal New Zealand Ballet was founded by: Poul Gnatt, Beryl Nettleton, Bettina Edwards and another female dancer, and pianist Dorothea Franchi.

I don't seem to understand you Mr. Johnson? Only two how could that be if as far as I knew they're were 11?

Edited by Blackswan, 10 May 2012 - 09:04 AM.

[Mel Johnson]

The rank of Prima Ballerins Assoluta was a creation of the Imperial Ballet at St. Petersburg. In addition to company rank, it carried a sort of civil service weight, and a special status conferred by the Tsar himself. Even if we were to allow for the idea that it could succeed unchanged from the Imperial to the Soviet systems, that would admit only of Ulanova and Plisetskaya being added to the list. Lacking the presence of an Emperor or Empress, may the title be conferred with only the authority of a King or Queen and Parliament? In Russia, there was no action by the Duma, the authority to confer company rank being an Imperial Prerogative. The title seems to have devolved into a sort of publicity sop meaning, "good ol' gal who should have hung it up a long time ago, but the ol' lady won't quit!"

[Victoria Leigh]

So perhaps they could be Prima Ballerina Assoluta Emeritus?

[Blackswan]

I get it!

I personally think that some of those ballerina's deserved the honor though.....

such as: Alicia Markova, Alicia Alonso, Maya Plisetskaya, Margot Fonteyn.. That's own my personal opinion though

[Mel Johnson]

Definitely those ladies, and more that haven't been mentioned. I wonder if there couldn't be an international colloquium formed from the nations which have previously named prime ballerine assolute, and convene to award deserving dancers the coveted title. It wouldn't have to be an every-year thing, like the medals at Varna or Lausanne and elsewhere. For example "for year x - no award." It could be a sort of university finding, rather like "prima ballerina assoluta honoris causa." Like a doctoral degree.

[ascballerina]

That would be cool!

We need a new question.

[Blackswan]

Oh sure sorry I seem to have forgotten...

what was DBE Margot Fonteyn's Birth name.

[ascballerina]

What's DBE?

Her name was Margaret Hookham.

What was Valsav Nijinsky only choreographic effort, and what occurred at its first (and only, I think) performance?