Dance History Timeline

  • 1738

    Russian School of Theatrical dance found
  • 19th century

    19th century

    Romantic era of ballet develops
  • 1804

    1804

    Taglioni Born
  • 1817

    1817

    Cerrito Born
  • 1819

    1819

    Grisi and Grahn Born
  • 1832

    1832

    Marie Taglioni premiered in Paris in La Sylphide
  • 1840

    1840

    Cerrito moved to London and Married Saint-Leon
  • 1845

    1845

    Grahn performed in Pas De Quatre
  • 1847

    1847

    Marie Taglioni Retired
  • 1851

    1851

    Cerrito made last appearance with saint-leon
  • 1854

    1854

    Carlotta Grisi retired
  • 1857

    1857

    Cerrito retired
  • 1860

    1860

    Giselle by Marius Petipa is the most often seen version today
  • 1870

    1870

    Petipa is the ballet master of imperial theater
  • 1872

    1872

    Serge Diaghilev born
  • 1880

    1880

    Michel Fokine born
  • 1881

    1881

    Anna Pavlova born
  • 1884

    1884

    Taglioni died
  • 1890

    1890

    Nijinsky born
  • 1896

    1896

    Massine born
  • 1899

    1899

    Grisi Died
  • 1904

    1904

    Balanchine born
  • 1907

    1907

    Grahn Died
  • 1909

    1909

    Cerrito died and Diaghilev brought Ballet Russe to Paris
  • 1909

    1909

    Fokine's Les Sylphides premieres
  • 1910

    1910

    Fokine's firebird
  • 1911

    1911

    Fokine's Petrouchka
  • 1912

    1912

    Nijinsky's Afternoon of the Faun
  • 1913

    1913

    Nijinsky's Rite of spring
  • 1918

    1918

    Jerome Robbins born
  • 1923

    1923

    Serge Lifar debuted with Ballet Rusee
  • 1929

    1929

    Diaghilev died
  • 1931

    1931

    Pavlova died
  • 1932

    1932

    First performance of Ballet Russe De Monte-Carlo
  • 1933

    1933

    Massine Era of Ballet at Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo
  • 1933

    1933

    Balanchine created school of American Ballet and NYCB
  • 1934

    1934

    Arthur Mitchell born
  • 1934

    1934

    Ballet Russe De Monte-Carlo sets sail for America
  • 1935

    1935

    Ballet Russe De Monte-Carlo performed for 3 million people
  • 1938

    1938

    Nureyev born
  • 1939

    1939

    Both companies of Ballet Russe back in london
  • 1939

    1939

    War was declared
  • 1940

    1940

    Makarova born
  • 1941

    1941

    Hurok severed ties with Basil
  • 1942

    1942

    Fokine died
  • 1943

    1943

    Feld born
  • 1944

    1944

    Ballet crossed over into Broadway
  • 1945

    1945

    Suzanne Farrell born
  • 1948

    1948

    the Original Ballet Russe's last performance
  • 1948

    1948

    Baryshnikov born
  • 1950

    1950

    Nijinsky died
  • 1979

    1979

    Massine died
  • 1983

    1983

    Balanchine died
  • 1998

    1998

    Jerome Robbins died
  • End of 20th century

    End of 20th century

    Ballet has morphed into contemporary ballet