International Dance Day April 29

Established by: International Theatre Institute (ITI), under UNESCO, in 1982.
Purpose: Celebrates the universal language of dance and honours dancers, choreographers, and their creativity.
Date chosen: April 29 — the birth anniversary of Jean-Georges Noverre, the father of modern ballet.

👤 Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810): A Pioneer of Modern Ballet

Born: April 29, 1727, Paris, France.
Came from a modest background — father was a soldier; mother from aristocracy.
Studied under the dancer Louis Dupré.
Debuted at the Opéra-Comique in 1743.
Performed in Versailles, London, and Berlin.

💡 Contributions to Ballet

🔸 Revolutionized Ballet Aesthetics and Purpose:

Before Noverre:
- Ballet was court entertainment — rigid, ornamental, lacking emotion.
- Focused on precision and symmetry, not expression or storytelling.

🔸 Ballet d’action (Dance of Action):

Introduced a dramatic, emotive narrative to ballet.
Encouraged dancers to express emotions like joy, grief, or anger.
Called for:
- Simplified costumes.
- Removal of masks to reveal facial expressions.
- Naturalistic gestures and movements.

🔸 Major Work:

“Lettres sur la danse et les ballets” (1760):
- Advocated for meaningful dance.
- Argued that dance should “move its audience.”
- Emphasized: “The dancer must feel before he can make others feel.”

🔄 Resistance and Legacy

Faced opposition from traditional ballet masters.
Supported by younger artists and composers like Christoph Willibald Gluck.
Became Ballet Master at the Paris Opera in 1776 — controversial but influential.
Influenced Romantic ballet (e.g., Giselle, Swan Lake).
Although he died in 1810, his impact lasted centuries — inspiring pioneers like Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, and Doris Humphrey.

📌 Key Takeaway for Exams

Noverre transformed ballet into a storytelling art form.
His ideas resonate with modern and contemporary dance aesthetics.
International Dance Day celebrates freedom of movement, artistic expression, and global dance culture—all rooted in Noverre’s vision.

MCQs – Jean-Georges Noverre & International Dance Day

1. When is International Dance Day celebrated?
A. April 15
B. April 27
C. April 29
D. May 1
✅ Answer: C. April 29

2. Jean-Georges Noverre is best known as the:
A. Father of opera
B. Founder of contemporary dance
C. Father of modern ballet
D. Pioneer of hip-hop
✅ Answer: C. Father of modern ballet

3. What was the title of Noverre’s famous treatise on ballet and dance?
A. Essais sur la Musique
B. Lettres sur la danse et les ballets
C. Ballet and Expression
D. Movements of the Soul
✅ Answer: B. Lettres sur la danse et les ballets

4. What major change did Noverre advocate in ballet?
A. Use of complex gymnastic stunts
B. Dance purely for court entertainment
C. Focus on storytelling and emotional expression
D. Emphasis on aristocratic rituals
✅ Answer: C. Focus on storytelling and emotional expression

5. Which famous composer collaborated with Noverre to reform opera and ballet?
A. Ludwig van Beethoven
B. Christoph Willibald Gluck
C. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
D. Johann Sebastian Bach
✅ Answer: B. Christoph Willibald Gluck

1. Which of the following best captures the essence of Jean-Georges Noverre’s concept of Ballet d’action?
A. Emphasis on rigid symmetry and courtly decorum
B. Use of masks to enhance mystery in performance
C. Movement as a medium to convey emotion and narrative
D. Exclusive focus on male dancers in ballet

2. What Enlightenment-era influence most shaped Noverre’s criticism of traditional ballet?
A. Scientific Rationalism and Empiricism
B. Calls for emotional authenticity and human identity in art
C. Support for absolutist monarchies and rituals
D. Rejection of drama and literature in performance arts

3. Which of the following changes did Noverre NOT advocate in ballet performance?
A. Removal of facial masks
B. Simplified and expressive choreography
C. Strict adherence to ornamental footwork only
D. Teaching dancers to observe life for expression

4. Which 19th-century ballet is seen as a direct legacy of Noverre’s ideas on emotive dance and storytelling?
A. The Nutcracker (1892)
B. La Bayadère (1877)
C. Swan Lake (1877)
D. Don Quixote (1869)

5. Which of the following statements is incorrect about Jean-Georges Noverre?
A. He was appointed ballet master at the Paris Opera in 1776
B. He promoted pointe technique for ballerinas
C. He collaborated with composer Gluck for artistic reform
D. His treatise “Lettres sur la danse” was published in 1760

✅ Answers

C. Movement as a medium to convey emotion and narrative
B. Calls for emotional authenticity and human identity in art
C. Strict adherence to ornamental footwork only
C. Swan Lake (1877)
B. He promoted pointe technique for ballerinas

📘 Explanations

1. Noverre’s Ballet d’action was revolutionary because it treated dance as a storytelling medium filled with emotional content, not just decorative movement.

2. The Enlightenment focus on individuality, emotion, and natural expression heavily influenced Noverre’s approach to making dance more meaningful.

3. While Noverre advocated for naturalism, expression, and reform in costume and staging, he rejected rigid, purely ornamental choreography.

4. Swan Lake (1877) featured emotional storytelling and tragic themes — ideas rooted in Noverre’s dramatic reform of ballet.

5. Pointe work (dancing on toes) became famous with ballerinas in the 19th century, after Noverre’s era; he focused on expressive movement, not this technique.

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International Dance Day April 29