Mikhail Fokine facts for kids
Mikhail Fokine (born April 23, 1880 – died August 22, 1942) was a famous Russian choreographer and dancer. He was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia. His father was a successful merchant.
When he was nine, Fokine joined the St Petersburg Imperial Ballet School. In 1898, at age 18, he performed for the first time. This was at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in the ballet Paquita. In 1902, he became a teacher at the ballet school.
Contents
Fokine's New Ideas in Ballet
Fokine wanted to change old ballet traditions. He believed that fancy dance moves were not just for showing off. Instead, they should help tell the story and express feelings.
He felt that many ballets at the time used costumes and mime (acting without words) that did not fit the story. So, he tried to make ballets more natural. He removed old-fashioned mime and outdated costumes.
As a choreographer, he also made other changes. He experimented with dancers using their arms and bodies more freely. He even tried taking ballerinas out of their pointe shoes. He shared these new ideas with the Imperial theatre. However, they did not support his changes at first.
Some of his early works include the ballet Acis and Galatea (1905). He also created The Dying Swan (1907). This was a special solo dance for the famous ballerina Anna Pavlova. It was set to music by Camille Saint-Saëns.
Working with Ballets Russes
In 1909, Sergei Diaghilev invited Fokine to join his new ballet company. This company was called the Ballets Russes, based in Paris. Fokine became their main choreographer.
He stopped working with the Ballets Russes in 1912. This was due to some creative disagreements. In 1918, he moved to Sweden. Later, he made his home in New York City, USA. There, he started a ballet school. He also continued to perform with his wife, Vera Fokina. He became a citizen of the United States in 1932. Mikhail Fokine passed away in New York on August 22, 1942.
Famous Ballets by Fokine
Mikhail Fokine created over 70 ballets. He staged them in Europe and the United States. His most well-known works include Chopiniana (later called Les Sylphides). Other famous ballets are Le Carnaval and Le Pavillon d'Armide.
For the Ballets Russes, he created many important ballets. These include The Firebird, Petrushka, and Le Spectre de la Rose. He also choreographed Daphnis et Chloé. Another famous work for the Ballets Russes was Scheherazade, based on music by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
Even today, Fokine's ballets are performed by top ballet companies around the world.
Images for kids
-
In Spanish: Michel Fokine para niños
