Ritual, Symbolism, and an Archaic Depiction of Marriage in Nijinska's Les Noces SKYLAR SMITH Bronislava Nijinska • Began as soloist in Diaghilev's Ballet Russes • In August 1915 moved to Kiev with husband Alexander Kochetovsky • Joined St. Petersburg's Imperial Ballet School • After the Russian Revolution Nijinska opens School of movement in 1917 This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA. Background of Les Noces • While in Kiev Nijinska begins creation of Les Noces • Les Noces or The Wedding • Companion Piece to Vaslav Nijinsky's Rite of Spring • Created Six Years After the Russian Revolution • Inspired by Marriage Laws and Traditions Costuming • Designed by Natalia Goncharova • Long Braids • Peasant Women • Wealthier Men • Importance of the Red and Blue Ribbon Music • Music Composed by Igor Stravinsky • Inspiration was taken from The Russian Folklorist P.V. Kireevsky's anthology of folksongs • Product of the Russian Church • Music makes references to the Virgin Mary and to Saints • Ritualistic Music • Words reflect fear of sexual violence This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA. Choreographic Symbolism • Opening pose • Braiding Motif in the first scene "Blessing of the Bride" • The Bride's Chamber Scene • Blessing of Bridegroom • Braided Noose • Wedding Feast Sections of Les Noces • Consecration of the Bride • Consecration of the Bridegroom • Departure of the Bride • The Wedding Feast Lasting Impact • Ballet Russes first and only female choreographer • Les Noces introduced the idea of feminism to the ballet world • Use choreography to address political issues Excerpt from Les Noces • https://video-alexanderstreet-com.proxysru.klnpa.org/watch/les-noces Conclusion Works Cited “Early Modern Ballet .” Dancing Women: Female Bodies on Stage, by Sally Banes, Routledge, London, 2006, pp. 108–122. GARAFOLA, LYNN. “An Amazon of the Avant-Garde: Bronislava Nijinska in Revolutionary Russia.” Dance Research: The Journal of the Society for Dance Research, vol. 29, no. 2, Edinburgh University Press, 2011, pp. 109–66, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41428397. GARAFOLA, LYNN. “Crafted by Many Hands: Re-Reading Bronislava Nijinska’s ‘Early Memoirs.’” Dance Research: The Journal of the Society for Dance Research, vol. 29, no. 1, Edinburgh University Press, 2011, pp. 1–18, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41428387. Les Noces , Alexander Street , video-alexanderstreet-com.proxy-sru.klnpa.org/watch/les-noces. Accessed 30 Nov. 2021.