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The Russian Imperial School of Ballet was founded
In St. Petersburg, this company began and produced many successful dancers with the help of numerous ballet masters. -
Marius Petipa arrives in St. Petersburg
Marius Petipa, the father of classical ballet, became a ballet master for the Imperial Theater in 1870 and created over 50 ballets such as The Nutcracker. -
Michel Fokine is born
He trained in Russia before joining the Ballet Russe as a dancer and choreographer -
Vaslav Nijinsky is born
He was a Ballet Russe dancer that later became a choreographer. His work raised the bar for male dancers. -
Leonide Massine is born
This world-renowned choreographer worked with Ballet Russe, after pushing George Balanchine out. His history with the Ballet Russe is extensive. -
Diaghilev brings the Ballet Russe to Paris
HIs company toured Europe, United States, and South America for 2 decades -
Serge Diaghilev dies
The creater of Ballet Russe died at 9pm in Venic Italy, leaving his company dancers without work. -
Resurection begins
Wasily de Basil and Rene Blum named their new company Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and George Balanchine became the ballet master and chief choreographer. -
Balanchine arrives in America
He came to America following an early career in Europe and he had trained with the Imperial School of Ballet until 1921. -
The Massine era begins
They pushed George Balanchine out of the picture and replaced him with Leonide Massine. He introduced symphonic orchestra to ballet and created lead roles for male dancers. -
The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo sets sail for America
Sol Hurok booked their first American tour. By 1935, they had performed for 3 million people. -
The School of American Ballet was founded and classes began
George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein established the School of American Ballet, wanting it to be an American company that could compete with the prestigious European ballet schools -
War is declared
Britain and France declared war on Germany. Both ballet companies were able to get on a boat and sail to America. -
Surok and Basil part ways
Hurok declared Basil one of the hardest people to work with, and severed their ties. Basil and The Ballet Russes found themselves without work because of no ties to America. -
Ballet meets Broadway
Ballet crossed over to Broadway with the choreography of George Balanchine after a 12 year part from Ballet Russe -
Mikhail Baryshnikov is born
He trained at the Imperial School of Ballet and later joined ABT (American Ballet Theatre) and NYCB (New York City Ballet). His impressive dancing talents and diversity have inspired the next generation of dances. (He is still alive today!) -
Ballet Russe's final performance
Basil had to hire new dancers since Hurok left, and the dancers were not as technically advanced so the company suffered and ceased performing.
