Ballet Evolved - The first four centuries

Join former ballet mistress Ursula Hageli at an Insights event as she explores the evolution of ballet steps from the Baroque period to the present day, with a little help from Royal Ballet dancers Melissa Hamilton, Yasmine Naghdi, Romany Pajdak and Claire Calvert.
www.roh.org.uk/insights

[@MissInternational09]

there needs to be a Ted talk series for dancers

[@meghans6556]

that would be amazing

[@georginajiang9186]

There’s a video by Ted-Edu on the origins of ballet. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXbInHmKn5qDrLc It’s quite short but I hope you enjoy. :)

[@Rostislav1977]

The way they making this presentation is really looks like TED-Talks format.

[@runrgrl35]

Great idea.... I would ❤️ it!

[@thailysepulveda1859]

I'm so jealous of their hyper extended legs!!! 😭😭😭😭😭

[@L.Spencer]

I never realized ballet has and is changing. Very interesting to see how it has advanced.

[@m.davidson2232]

I know righ. It's quite fascinating

[@pawelwysocki1581]

Increased nudity isn't much in the way of progress. And you see that in the opera as well. They've sodomised art and music. It's horrid what they've done. Teenagers are better off wasting their time watching funny videos than that kind of art...

[@pawelwysocki1581]

I mean, my previous answer was a bit emotional. Bit think about it - these days teenagers frequently take drugs and watch pornography. You try to find an alternative to that way of life. Maybe art or music? Except for these days the opera and ballet may very well have just as damaging an effect on their fragile personalities! Horrid times to live in...

[@blurryface139]

Seems like how it has relapsed. 😶 Mainstream ballet today is nothing but acrobatics.

[@individualisttv9247]

This isn’t really the historical origin of ballet. The woman on the left is doing the social court dance of the baroque era, but there was a much more animated theatrical ballet of the age that this court dancing was an imitation of.

[@altongrimes]

Ursula Hageli brings such articulate and highly informative narration to this wonderful series. Additionally, there is something of an introduction to various members of the company. I feel tremendous admiration and respect for everyone involved here. An expert production. (P.S. The Royal Ballet is coming to New York !)

[@roxanne_george]

Alton Grimes, absolutely

[@ebonythepoodle2191]

Alton Grimes no one asked

[@RoyalBalletAndOpera]

Hi, dance is recorded in a series of notations - much the same as a score for music - so we have records of steps and how pieces were danced. Very old dance notations go back to the early 1700s!

[@larrybillman2027]

Fantastic! As someone who studied Horton techniques, tap and Jack Cole Hindu jazz - this site will be my school. It comes 60 years too late but netter late than never, eh?

[@90sdimples]

Cutest comment..ever

[@vivianleenet]

We need more of these! What a treat to see all of this from Ms. Hageli.

[@lockheart619]

I didn't know dance could perk such an interest in my life, I love it.

[@adriannespring8598]

Gorgeous history of the ballet and dance!! Truly incredible baroque gown the woman is wearing as well.

[@ashiamarisahinocum]

me, never experienced a single wink of ballet: wow..shoulders..stronge..buff..feet fly mm

[@annabee1335]

This is wonderful! It's fun to see the movements in action! Thanks for posting!!!!

[@lisar9425]

Such a great series. They must do it again.

[@ladyshkspre]

I don't dance anymore but I did MANY moons ago. I still find ballet videos like this very interesting, thanks for sharing!

[@betsykirkland418]

love, Love, LOVE this series

[@kristineelliott2332]

Ursula! How marvelous to find you online in this wonderful ballet series! BRAVO!! Your friend from Stuttgart days Kristine Elliott xxo

[@dreamcatcher0113]

My favourite ballet would be the one of Claire's times - forgot what it's called :D. These days ballet has too much emphasis on flexibility. Ballet can be beautiful on its own without the acrobatic quality added to it.

[@aaballet5421]

I absolutely love this series!!! This is an excellent companion material for my ballet history study!!! Do you publish any book summarizing the contents and the DVD?

[@TheRacingWind]

So fascinating. I absolutely love ROH.

[@Jackibars]

I loved it :) Its nice to see the movements rather then just talking about it :) thank you

[@emilyrudenberg4705]

More please! So wonderful

[@PatydelaMaza]

What a beautiful project! thank you.

[@FrostedGrass]

I absolutely love this! Wish it had been a bit longer though, I could never tire of this!

[@TheAliciasunshine]

This was excellent! Thank you so much or sharing!

[@VanessaBenitezB]

Cool! More would be great. Thanks ROH!!

[@brieziethirteen13]

What a good video. Thank you!

[@angelvisto2768]

degas is my favourite artist coz he painted beautiful dancers

[@sian2337]

How old is too old to learn Ballet? It's just fascinating, I was always too shy as a kid.

[@notyourtypicalwatchreview2563]

You’re never too old. There are adult beginner classes that would love to have you.

[@librandancer]

Very interesting. It would be good to see more such educational videos. Thank you.

[@joana7497]

wonderful to know this!

[@bethslifebeforedeath]

this was so cool, more please!

[@imaginecreatebe]

I think a lot of the time people observing dance forget that the types of costumes actually have a purpose. I'm a belly dancer, and the costumes have changed from fully covering dresses to the bedlah usually seen now, reason being we do a lot of muscular work with our abdominals and hips that you couldn't see otherwise. And although many contemporary dancers wear stomach revealing costumes, belly dancers are considered 'prostitutes' by many, mainly the middle east. Perspective changes everything

[@Guadalupefan]

Lovely video!! Thank you very much!!!!

[@ballerinatwin1]

I used to dance with the Alabama Ballet and before that, the Nashville Ballet. We did outreaches for school kids. This would have been a wonderful demonstration to include.

[@alesbica]

AMAZING! Lovely. The only type of history lesson I enjoy haha.

[@RafaelSantos-xl1ut]

Rewatching... Again ☺️😍

[@armandoalcala1]

fascinating, thanks for posting this.

[@indizinhax3]

Amazing vídeo! I Always asked myself how it worked in the past. Seems simple and beautiful.

[@Aasenzeng]

oh my god, she did the narration in a costume!

[@EliLee]

what a nice class

[@individualisttv9247]

Most ballet historians seem to have forgotten that the court dancing that is supposedly the “origin” of ballet in the baroque era was just an offshoot of the theatrical dancing at the time. Early on, legs were high, jumps were big and virtuosic, and even in the grotesque style, there were acrobatics. She is demonstrating the noble social dance at the time, but ballet today did not evolve from this.

[@cristaltiti]

wow!! i love this video!

[@IsabellaSleeps]

That was very interesting. I've always wondered what the steps would have looked like in the early days. Great video, and charming dancers.

[@loulie1997]

OH I WANT TO SEE MORE!!!

[@countessmontechristo7375]

Very interesting Bravo!!!

[@Eva_Phanto]

So beautiful

[@woobth1761]

romany's face when she walks forward with the same arm and leg moving cracks me up

[@Mosayedl]

Melissa you were doing great!! :D

[@NiUr17]

I don't know anything about ballet just ended up in this video quite randomly but this is actually quite interesting

[@brendonhansford]

Definitely worth another of watch!

[@nhmisnomer]

I'm writing a novel about a ballerina who time travels to the 18th century. This video is very helpful research. Thanks!

[@notyourtypicalwatchreview2563]

Did you ever finish it? I’d love to read it.

[@nhmisnomer]

@@notyourtypicalwatchreview2563 oh Thanks! Yes, I did finish it. You can find it on Amazon and other online booksellers in print and e-book form. The title is The Bad Death.

[@notyourtypicalwatchreview2563]

@@nhmisnomer I’m having trouble finding it; do you have a link?

[@thekingshussar1808]

So elegant!

[@hannahbielby7537]

I so want to go swan lake or black swan on stage . Just love it x

[@carbonc6065]

Awesome.

[@elizabethmirre47]

Lovely!

[@persuasionausten]

Fascinating! :)

[@janeyrevanescence12]

Then there's the Versailles glide. You'd walk on the balls of your feet, taking quick short steps. The idea was that you'd look like you were floating on a lake; Not bad when you're in your regular clothes. But doing it in a hoop skirt, jewelry, heavy clothing...

[@agogobell28]

Reminds one of the Russian khorovod technique.

[@emeiliaa.8003]

Very informative thanks.

[@TheNextCompanionDW]

Claire's pointe shoes are BREATHTAKING! What brand are they? :)

[@beetlejuice3171]

Fascinating

[@Minipracht]

awesome!

[@JanetteHeffernan]

Very enjoyable!

[@saarinenj1]

I like old ballet

[@TheJadaHope]

Omg... amazing

[@AlwaysMusicAlly]

I wish I could take a class like this at college.

[@runahorsey]

Fantastic :)

[@KevinFitzMauriceEverett]

Interesting. Would like to see more of the same.

[@jumuelue]

I absolutely love the Taglioni style!!!

[@herrbrucvald6376]

I wish Royal Ballet would revive "La Péri" (1843).

[@fallenangel9716]

This woman has such a cool dress

[@znamoperu]

I feel the same way. Always.

[@acacia-bloom]

More please :)

[@balletonly07]

Can you please come in and give this presentation to my students?!?!?!?! :)

[@qmng9725]

I should do that to train my ankles! :D

[@taiwanelisa]

Would love to see a piece of Baroque dance with the costumes and music - what about dancing on a Bach bourrée, minuet or gigue? Royal Ballet 萬歲!

[@almaalice991]

that last second, the split, beautiful.

[@machdieduerzo]

Nice idea bringing out this series. Thank you. Nevertheless I can't agree with the theory of a "quarter rise" and "super strong ankles" in consequence. The 3 or 4 cm heels of baroque shoes added, you arrive at a quite usual foot activity. :)

[@notyourtypicalwatchreview2563]

One does not have strong ankles; one has strong muscles surrounding the joint. I agree with you about the quarter rise.

[@alisyarazman]

thumbs up if you hit pause at the ponche

[@ParadaNadaJK]

that ponche :o

[@killiantouboul8462]

I don't understand something... She says that in the 18th century the first position was not as turned out as today (wich obviously makes sense) but few seconds later she asks the dancers to do the other positions and the one that does the fifth does it with a "nowadays" turn out. So was the fifth position back in the 18th century, as turbed out as today (as the dancer demonstrates it) or was it more like the third position ?

[@pilateswithsadie]

amazing arabesque i want to be like all of you some day :)

[@WhiteRabbit83]

Very nice video! However... has anyone noticed the terribly wrong transcripts in the English subtitles?

[@azoj777]

Good luck with your novel!

[@verydenise]

SO INTERESTING! how do we know how they USED to dance??

[@majernigan]

No art is static. Great way to point that out about ballet.

[@thecurledfreckle]

Ha! So interesting!

[@Vexlulz]

Haha when she grabs her back at the end... I know the feeling but i certainly can't get that high :L

[@gretchen_sophiapalington9264]

I feel like 1900 and present day should switch

[@Santiagoarciniegaqui]

how the crowd speak in the final part when is 2010

[@verydenise]

cool, thanks for replying back :)

[@justinaelizabeth5547]

Wow that Romany girl reminds me of me. Kind of freaky, but kinda cool. :)

[@elleromanovafermanpevel2127]

😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@90sdimples]

Is there such a ballet that only does the frst century ballet moves?

[@FairbrookWingates]

I think the Italiano time style would make a good ballet option for those of us with less affinity for splits and other extreme stretches. It would be great to take a class doing just early ballet moves. Still a work out, still calls for strength and becoming more limber but not /quite/ as extreme of demands.

[@roxanne_george]

90sdimples, you wouldn't like it.

[@noblesetsentimentales]

Yes. Look up "Le danses du roi - entrée d'Apollon" for a ballet in the Baroque style.

[@Msyrnonamesavailable]

I know! I think a lot of the more recent developments in ballet, regarding flexibility, often look unnatural and unsightly :/ especially, what is today considered a perfect turnout (i.e. it's TOO turned out and looks, frankly, weird) also the "six o'clock" thingy me jiggy (forgot what it's called :/ )

[@altongrimes]

Rohan, Take a hike troll

[@MAGICDANCEPOPOVA]

Тоесть получается они не изучали старинные танцы? Ведь красивые позы это оттуда

[@tinoylegaspi]

now i know..

[@elleromanovafermanpevel2127]

real ballet

[@ursie1986]

Heyyy my name's Ursula :3

[@shantrues]

I would have loved to see the instructors feet more

[@chillychill1716]

me, a ham fan, is just concerned on how the first dancer has Hamilton for her surname