LIB552
Ballet in 19th-Century Russia: Stories, Composers, Music
Though ballet as we know it today originated in mid-19th-century France, its spectacular rise to popularity was consolidated later in the century at the Imperial Theatres of St. Petersburg and Moscow. This development was largely the work of a single towering figure: the French-born choreographer Marius Petipa (1818-1910). We will delve into the literary sources and music of some of the most beloved ballets to emerge out of Imperial Russia, focusing on the works of three major composers who collaborated with Petipa: Ludwig Minkus (1826-1917), composer of Don Quixote and La Bayadere; Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), composer of Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker; and Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936), composer of Raymonda and The Seasons.
This course is offered in person.
A $50 discount is available during check-out for adults 55+.
Overview
Location: Vancouver
Duration: 6 weeks
Tuition: $180 plus GST
Can be applied to:
Liberal Arts for 55+ Certificate
Upcoming Offerings
- Mon, May 4, 1:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Mon, May 11, 1:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Mon, May 25, 1:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Mon, Jun 1, 1:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Mon, Jun 8, 1:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Mon, Jun 15, 1:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
Apr 15, 2026
Course outline
- Week 1
Don Quixote (1869), based on the novel by Miguel de Cervantes. - Week 2
La Bayadere (1877), based on the play Shakuntala by Kalidasa and the poem "The God and the Bayadere” by Goethe. - Week 3
Swan Lake (1877). - Week 4
The Sleeping Beauty (1890), based on the fairy tale by Charles Perrault. - Week 5
The Nutcracker (1892), based on the tale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann. - Week 6
Raymonda (1898) and The Seasons (1900).
What you will learn
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
- Appreciate the influence of choreographer Marius Pepita on musical and dramatic forms of Russian ballet in the late-19th century
- Identify leading composers and literary sources of ballet in the period
- Recognize innovative developments in ballet technique at this time
How you will learn
- Lectures
- Participation in discussions
- Supplementary resources accessed through Canvas
- Reflective essay (applicable only to certificate students)
Learning Materials
No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.
Technical Requirements
Handouts and other course resources will be available on Canvas, SFU’s online learning system.
To access the resources, you should be comfortable with:
- Using everyday software such as browsers, email and social media
- Navigating a website by clicking on links and finding pages in a menu
- Downloading and opening PDF documents