The Daughter of the Snows facts for kids
The Daughter of the Snows is a special kind of dance show called a ballet. It has three acts and five scenes. This ballet is also known by its Russian name, Snegurochka, or its French name, La Fille des neiges.
The dance moves were created by Marius Petipa, who was the choreographer. The music for the ballet was written by Ludwig Minkus.
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What is The Daughter of the Snows?
A ballet tells a story using dance and music. The Daughter of the Snows is based on a play from 1873. This play was called The Snow Maiden. It was written by Alexander Ostrovsky.
The Story Behind the Ballet
The play and the ballet get their ideas from an old Russian folk fairy tale. This tale is about a character named Snegurochka. She is also known as the Snow Maiden. The story comes from a collection of folklore gathered by Alexander Afanasyev.
Who Created the Ballet?
Marius Petipa not only created the dance steps (choreography) but also wrote the story for the ballet. This story is called the libretto. He worked with the composer Ludwig Minkus to bring this snowy tale to life on stage.
When and Where Did It First Show?
The Daughter of the Snows first opened to the public on January 7, 1879. This big event happened in St. Petersburg, Russia. The show was performed at the St. Petersburg Imperial Bolshoi Kammeny Theatre.
The First Performance
The ballet was performed by the Imperial Ballet. This was a very famous dance company at the time. The ballet was not performed many times after its first shows.
The Main Dancer
A very important dancer named Yekaterina Vazem played the main role. She was the prima ballerina, which means the lead female dancer. She danced the part of the Snow Maiden.