Pas de deux: The Language of Classical Ballet
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
World Languages & Cultures
Faculty Mentor
Scott Shinabargar, Ph.D.
Abstract
As a traditionally European art form, ballet is neither widely practiced nor studied by many dancers in the United States in comparison to other countries. As both a French major and ballet dancer, my goal for this project is to highlight the history of ballet, and the use of French language within its technique, exposing the audience to the rich tradition of a classic and expressive art form. After a brief discussion of the history of classical ballet and its French origins, I will present a video demonstrating the ways in which the French language functions as a tool for artistic expression within an art form, and contrasting it with its use in communication by native French speakers. Furthermore, the video includes several pieces from ballets choreographed by French dancers, along with some basic ballet steps performed by me, and supplementary text explaining the French meaning behind each given term. For example, most people have heard the term “plié” (to bend) used in the context of ballet, but how does this compare to the way it is used in everyday French? How else could the word be interpreted, and how would these other interpretations affect our perception of the movement? By exposing the audience to the various nuances and cultural connotations of the French language used within the art form, I hope to provide a deeper knowledge and appreciation of classical ballet from a global perspective.
Start Date
20-4-2018 1:00 PM
Pas de deux: The Language of Classical Ballet
DIGS 114
As a traditionally European art form, ballet is neither widely practiced nor studied by many dancers in the United States in comparison to other countries. As both a French major and ballet dancer, my goal for this project is to highlight the history of ballet, and the use of French language within its technique, exposing the audience to the rich tradition of a classic and expressive art form. After a brief discussion of the history of classical ballet and its French origins, I will present a video demonstrating the ways in which the French language functions as a tool for artistic expression within an art form, and contrasting it with its use in communication by native French speakers. Furthermore, the video includes several pieces from ballets choreographed by French dancers, along with some basic ballet steps performed by me, and supplementary text explaining the French meaning behind each given term. For example, most people have heard the term “plié” (to bend) used in the context of ballet, but how does this compare to the way it is used in everyday French? How else could the word be interpreted, and how would these other interpretations affect our perception of the movement? By exposing the audience to the various nuances and cultural connotations of the French language used within the art form, I hope to provide a deeper knowledge and appreciation of classical ballet from a global perspective.
