La Fille mal gardée facts for kids
La Fille Mal Gardée (pronounced Lah Fee Mahl Gar-day) is a super fun and old comedy ballet. Its name means The Unchaperoned Daughter, which tells you a bit about the story! Imagine a young girl who wants to have fun, but her mom is always watching her. That's kind of what this ballet is about.
The music for this ballet was written by Ferdinand Hérold. The dance moves, called choreography, were created by a person named Dauberval. This ballet first came to life in Bordeaux, France, way back in 1789. It was then shown in Paris on July 1, 1789. It's amazing because it's the oldest ballet that big ballet companies still perform today!
Contents
What is La Fille Mal Gardée About?
This ballet tells a funny story. It's about a young girl named Lise. She is in love with a farmer boy named Colas. But Lise's mother, the Widow Simone, has other plans for her daughter. The mother wants Lise to marry a rich, silly boy named Alain.
The Story of Lise and Colas
Lise and Colas try to sneak around and be together. The Widow Simone tries very hard to keep them apart. She often locks Lise up to stop her from seeing Colas. But Lise and Colas are clever. They find ways to trick the Widow Simone.
Funny Moments in the Ballet
One of the most famous parts of the ballet is the "Clog Dance." In this dance, the Widow Simone wears wooden shoes called clogs. She dances in a very funny way! This part always makes the audience laugh. There are also many other funny scenes. These include Lise hiding from her mother.
Who Created This Famous Ballet?
The original idea for La Fille Mal Gardée came from Jean Dauberval. He was a French dancer and choreographer. He wanted to create a ballet that showed real-life people and their feelings. Before this, many ballets were about gods and goddesses.
The Music and Its History
The music for the ballet has changed over time. The most famous version of the music was put together by Ferdinand Hérold. Later, other composers added their own music. This helped keep the ballet fresh and exciting for new audiences.
How the Ballet Has Changed
Over the years, many famous choreographers have created their own versions of La Fille Mal Gardée. Each choreographer adds their own special touch. This means that while the main story stays the same, the dances can be a bit different. This is why it's still so popular today.
Why is This Ballet So Special?
La Fille Mal Gardée is special for many reasons. It was one of the first ballets to tell a simple, human story. It showed everyday life and feelings. This was new and exciting for audiences in the 1700s.
Its Long History on Stage
It's also special because it has been performed for over 200 years! Not many ballets can say that. It shows how much people love its funny story and beautiful dances. It's a true classic in the world of ballet.
A Ballet for Everyone
This ballet is great for people of all ages. Kids often love the funny parts and the bright, happy music. It's a wonderful way to learn about ballet. It shows that ballet can be fun and full of laughter.
Images for kids
-
Pierre-Antoine Baudouin's painting Le reprimande/Une jeune fille querellée par sa mère.
-
Announcement for the premiere of La Fille mal gardée at the Pantheon, London, 1791.
-
Mme. Théodore Dauberval, creator of the role of Lise. Paris, 1761.
-
Virginia Zucchi as Lise in Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov's revival of La Fille mal gardée, St. Petersburg, 1885.
-
Final scene from Act II of the Kirov/Mariinsky Ballet's revival of La Fille mal gardée, St. Petersburg, 1994.
-
Anna Pavlova in "La Fille mal gardée", 1912
-
Sarah Lamb (as Lise) and Martin Harvey (as Colas) in the Fanny Elssler pas de deux from Ashton's La Fille mal gardée, London, 2005.
-
William Tuckett as the Widow Simone with members of the corps de ballet in the Clog Dance from the Royal Ballet's production of Ashton's La Fille mal gardée, London, 2006.
See also
In Spanish: La fille mal gardée para niños
