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Ballet master

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Edgar Degas' painting of the ballet master Jules Perrot conducting rehearsal in the Foyer de la Danse of the Palais Garnier, Paris, 1875

A ballet master (also balletmaster, ballet mistress, premier maître de ballet or premier maître de ballet en chef) is an employee of a ballet company who is responsible for the level of competence of the dancers in their company. In modern times, ballet masters are generally charged with teaching the daily company ballet class and rehearsing the dancers for both new and established ballets in the company's repertoire.[1] The artistic director of a ballet company, whether a male or female, may also be called its ballet master. Historic use of gender marking in job titles in ballet (and live theatre) is being supplanted by gender-neutral language job titles regardless of an employee's gender (e.g. ballet master in lieu of ballet mistress, wig master as an alternative to wig mistress).

History of the position

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Especially during the early centuries of ballet troupes and ballet companies from the 18th century until the early 20th century, the position of first ballet master, referred to traditionally as the premier maître de ballet en chef or more simply as the maître de ballet, was the undisputed head of the company who acted as chief choreographer and artistic director. His duties included creating ballets, dances in operas, commissioning music, and presiding over the teaching of the dancers and style desired. It was this head ballet master who had the responsibility of the artistic directorship of a particular group of dancers or of a theatre. Since the early 20th century, primarily after the disbandment of the original Ballets Russes, the title has been used more to describe the master teachers/assistant directors of a ballet company, (previously known as second ballet master), with the head of a company being referred to as the artistic director.

In recent years, companies have quietly begun to change the title's name given its hierarchical and dominating connotations.[2] They have switched the name of the position to various titles such as Principal Teacher,[3] Artistic Manager,[4] and other such titles to avoid the politically charged word "master."

Famous ballet masters

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  • Filippo Taglioni, circa 1820
    Filippo Taglioni, circa 1820
  • Jules Perrot, circa 1850
    Jules Perrot, circa 1850
  • Marius Ivanovich Petipa
    Marius Ivanovich Petipa
  • Jean Coralli, one of the creators of the ballet Giselle, Paris, circa 1810
    Jean Coralli, one of the creators of the ballet Giselle, Paris, circa 1810
  • Arthur Saint-Léon, Paris, circa 1865
    Arthur Saint-Léon, Paris, circa 1865
  • Lithograph of Jean Dauberval, Paris, circa 1790
    Lithograph of Jean Dauberval, Paris, circa 1790
  • August Bournonville, 1841
    August Bournonville, 1841
  • Enrico Cecchetti, St. Petersburg, circa 1900
    Enrico Cecchetti, St. Petersburg, circa 1900

References

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  1. ^ Craine, Debra; Mackrell, Judith (19 August 2010). The Oxford Dictionary of Dance. Oxford University Press. p. 39. ISBN 9780199563449. Originally a term describing the man at court who oversaw all dance aspects of a production, it now commonly refers to the individual who is responsible for setting the rehearsal schedule in a ballet company. Ballet masters are also in charge of ensuring the maintenance of performing standards and frequently coach dancers in new roles.
  2. ^ ""The Ballet Master": out of fashion?". Dance for You Magazine (in German). 2024-02-05. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  3. ^ "ABT Faculty & Musicians". ABT Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis School. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  4. ^ "Faculty & Staff". The Rock School for Dance Education. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
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