Ballet master

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See also: Category:Ballet masters and Category:Ballet mistresses
Edgar Degas painting of the great balletmaster Jules Perrot conducting rehearsal in the Foyer de la Danse of the Palais Garnier. Paris, 1875
Edgar Degas painting of the great balletmaster Jules Perrot conducting rehearsal in the Foyer de la Danse of the Palais Garnier. Paris, 1875
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'Ballet Master' (Balletmaster, Ballet Mistress. Premier Maître de ballet or Premier Maître de ballet en Chef) is the term used for 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 (or Ballet mistress for a female) are generally charged with teaching the daily company ballet class and rehearsing the dancers for both new and established ballets in the repertoire.

[edit] History of the position

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 purverying 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.

After the early 20th century, primarily after the disbandment of the original Ballet Russe, 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.

[edit] Famous Ballet Masters

[edit] Gallery of Ballet Masters

Filippo Taglioni, circa 1820

Jules Perrot, circa 1850

Marius Ivanovich Petipa

Lev Ivanov costumed as Solor in the ballet La Bayadere. St. Petersburg, 1877

Jean Coralli, one of the creators of the ballet Giselle. Paris, circa 1810

Arthur Saint-Léon. Paris, circa 1865
Lithograph of Jean Dauberval, Paris, circa 1790

August Bournonville, 1841

The Imperial Ballet's infamous teacher, Christian Johansson

Enrico Cecchetti, St. Petersburg, circa 1900

Sir Anthony Dowell, featured in a poster from Cinderella