Bournonville School
Encyclopedia
The Bournonville method is a ballet technique
and training system devised by the Danish ballet master August Bournonville
.
and other notable French ballet masters. He was heavily influenced by the early French school of ballet, which he preserved in his teaching and choreography, when the traditional French methods began to disappear from European ballet. What is considered today to be the "Bournonville style" is essentially the unfiltered 19th century technique of the French school of classical dance.
The technique features very basic use of arms, usually keeping them in preparatoire position. Perpetual use of simple diagonal epaulements. Vocabulary for men is essentially varied forms of beats. Pirouettes are taken with a low developpe into seconde, then from seconde, for outside turns, and with a low developpe into 4th for inside turns. Also common are the dramatic use of fifth position bras en bas (preparatory position) for beginning and ending movements. The style has many recognizable poses such as pointe derriere one arm in 5th, the other a la taille (at the waist), with a touch of epaulement. F
Ballet technique
The core technique of ballet has only minor regional variations globally. Various training methods have been devised, these produce a different physicality of performance and aesthetic results...
and training system devised by the Danish ballet master August Bournonville
August Bournonville
August Bournonville was a Danish ballet master and choreographer. August was the son of Antoine Bournonville, a dancer and choreographer trained under the French choreographer, Jean Georges Noverre, and the nephew of Julie Alix de la Fay, née Bournonville, of the Royal Swedish Ballet.August was...
.
Overview
August Bournonville trained with his father Antoine BournonvilleAntoine Bournonville
Antoine Bournonville was a French ballet dancer, actor, singer and a choreographer, active in the Royal Swedish Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet and eventually ballet master in the latter. He is considered to have played a great role in the development of the ballet in Scandinavia...
and other notable French ballet masters. He was heavily influenced by the early French school of ballet, which he preserved in his teaching and choreography, when the traditional French methods began to disappear from European ballet. What is considered today to be the "Bournonville style" is essentially the unfiltered 19th century technique of the French school of classical dance.
The technique features very basic use of arms, usually keeping them in preparatoire position. Perpetual use of simple diagonal epaulements. Vocabulary for men is essentially varied forms of beats. Pirouettes are taken with a low developpe into seconde, then from seconde, for outside turns, and with a low developpe into 4th for inside turns. Also common are the dramatic use of fifth position bras en bas (preparatory position) for beginning and ending movements. The style has many recognizable poses such as pointe derriere one arm in 5th, the other a la taille (at the waist), with a touch of epaulement. F
Characteristics
- The guiding principle of the Bournonville method is that the dancer should perform with a natural grace, dramatic impact and harmony between body and music
- Graceful epaulement, with the upper body usually twisting towards the working foot, to draw attention to and emphasise the movement.
- Lowered eye-line to give the impression of kindness, not raised with the expression of being proud.
- The eyes naturally follow the moving leg.
- Great attention is paid to the shape and placement of the arms. Arms are held in front of the body in all positions, so as to be anatomically correct.
- Feet are low in the cou de pied position, with the toe of the working foot behind the ankle of the standing leg.
- Pirouettes are performed with a low leg position, a result of the long skirts worn by ladies during his time.
- Bournonville method is noted for developing quick footwork, as required by Bournonville's choreography
- There should be no visible effort. Even the largest, most dramatic steps should be performed in an understated manner.
- There should be a visible contrast between the speed of the legs and the grace of the arms and torso. The legs are the rhythm, the arms are the melody
Notable Students
The following is a list of notable dancers who received their training in the Bournonville method:- Erik BruhnErik BruhnErik Belton Evers Bruhn was a Danish ballet dancer, choreographer, company director, actor, and author.- Biography :...
- Nikolaj HübbeNikolaj HübbeNikolaj Hübbe is artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet. He was born on 30 October th, 1967, and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark. He began his dance training at age 10 at the Royal Danish Ballet School and became an apprentice to the Royal Danish Ballet in 1984. He was promoted soloist in 1988....
- Johan KobborgJohan KobborgJohan Kobborg is a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in London.-Early Life:Johan Kobborg was born in Odense, Denmark into an artistic family; his mother is a former showgirl and actress and his brother is an actor...