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The Five Principles Of Dance In The Russo-American Era

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Dance is found in all cultures, it was considered a way to communicate without talking. During the Renaissance period, ballet was considered a Russian specialty. The highly qualified and sought after dance companies would tour the world performing in front of those who had never experienced ballet before. By exposing ballet to the United States of America, the Russians inspired and sparked a demand for legitimate ballet in America. It took place throughout the 20th century, currently known as the Russo-American Era. During the Russo-American Era, the Russian choreographers, such as, Michel Fokine, Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, Léonide Massine, and Bronislava Nijinska; they benefited from its American audience and started to make dramatic changes to the classical ballet. Every single one of these choreographers implemented and transformed the way people view, danced and perceived ballet in the early 20th century. Several ideas for these innovations were from Michel Fokine, when in 1914 wrote a letter to the London Times, stating the five principles of ballet that befitted the 20th century ballet:
1. Each dance should use new forms of movement suitable to its subject and period.
2. Dance and mime should be used to express dramatic action.
3. Mime should be used only when the ballet’s style dictates it, in other cases the dancer’s whole body, not only the hands, should be used to communicate.
4. The corps de ballet should be used for plot development and as a means of

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