Triadic ballet facts for kids
The Triadic Ballet was a very special and experimental ballet created by Oskar Schlemmer and others. Schlemmer first thought of the idea in 1912. Dancers Albert Burger and Elsa Hötzel helped him bring the ballet to life. The music for the ballet was composed by Paul Hindemith. Parts of the ballet were shown in 1916, and the first complete performance happened in 1922. The ballet was developed in Stuttgart, Germany, and that's also where it was first performed. It was even shown at an exhibition for the famous Bauhaus art school in Weimar in 1923.
Contents
What is the Triadic Ballet?
The Triadic Ballet was not like a regular ballet you might see today. It was an "experimental" show, meaning it tried new and different things. Oskar Schlemmer wanted to combine dance, art, and music in a unique way.
Unique Costumes and Movement
One of the most famous things about the Triadic Ballet was its amazing costumes. These costumes were very geometric, meaning they used shapes like circles, squares, and triangles. They were often padded and made the dancers look like moving sculptures.
The costumes changed how the dancers could move. Instead of flowing, graceful movements, the dancers often moved in a more mechanical or puppet-like way. This made the ballet look very modern and different for its time.
The Idea Behind It
Oskar Schlemmer believed that the human body could be transformed by costumes and space. He wanted to show how dancers could interact with the stage and their outfits to create new forms of art. The ballet was divided into three parts, or "acts," each with a different mood and color scheme. This is why it's called "Triadic," meaning "of three."
How the Ballet Started
Oskar Schlemmer began thinking about the Triadic Ballet in 1912. He was inspired by another artistic work called Pierrot lunaire, a musical piece by Arnold Schönberg from the same year. This inspiration helped him imagine a new kind of performance.
Schlemmer worked closely with dancers Albert Burger and Elsa Hötzel. They helped him develop the movements and ideas for the ballet. Paul Hindemith created the music, which was an important part of the show's unique feel.
Performances and Later Life
The Triadic Ballet had its first full performance in 1922 in Stuttgart. It was a big event and showed off the new ideas from the Bauhaus art school.
Years later, in 1970, a 30-minute movie was made about the Triadic Ballet. This film helped more people see and understand this important piece of art history.
Images for kids
-
This poster shows the unique style of the Triadic Ballet, designed by Oskar Schlemmer.
