Landmark Ballets of the Romantic Era | Osher Lifelong Learning Institute | University of Miami

Landmark Ballets of the Romantic Era

OSH 714 / Non Credit
Course taught in: English
Locations: TBA
Instructor: Lucette Comer

Course Description

The purpose of the class will be to view contemporary reconstructions of landmark ballets, performed by major companies of today. Discussions will focus on the historical background of each ballet, major choreographers, composers, dancers, etc. Factors such as early Romanticism, the emergence of the female ballerina, the rise of spiritualism, the rising importance of the common man, and the use of pantomime will be covered as well as the development of ballet technique, itself. How to judge the quality of a ballet performance will also be discussed.

Week 1 Intro to the course. The rise of Romanticism. The rise of the great ballerina. Ballet: Le Grand Pas de Quatre (1845)
Week 2 Spiritualism in ballet Ballet: La Sylphide (Bournville version). (1836)
Week 3 Focus on the “Common man” Ballet: La Fille Mal Gardée (1789)
Week 4 Spiritualism meets the focus on the common man. Ballet: Giselle (1841)
Week 5 Influence of Literature (1844) Ballet: La Esmeralda (Based on Victor Hugo’s Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Week 6 Transition to Russia, exoticism Ballet: Le Corsaire (1956)

Mrs. Lucette Comer, dancer, teacher, and choreographer of ballet and modern dance possessing a master of arts degree in dance from Sarah Lawrence College. She studied both ballet and modern dance for many years. She performed with the Charles Weidman Theatre Dance Company and did some professional dancing. She was on the faculty of the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati where she taught dance technique, dance composition, and dance history. Her choreography focused on the relationship between dance and music.

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