admin
Thu, 03/28/2024 - 19:10
Edited Text
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.