ЧОЛОВІЧЕ БАЛЕТНЕ ВИКОНАВСТВО В УКРАЇНІ 30–40-х РОКІВ ХХ ст.

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to identify the special features of Ukrainian male ballet performance in the 1930s – 1940sbased on the analysis of the works by O. Sehal, B. Stepanenko, and O. Stalinskyi. The research methodology is based on theapplication of the historical and biographical approaches to comprehend the work of ballet dancers in chronological order, thecultural approach and art studies analysis to identify the artistic characteristics of male performance and consider its formationin the context of general trends in the development of ballet theatre. Scientific novelty. The features of male ballet performanceof the 1930s – 1940s through the prism of general trends in the development of ballet dance and creative biographies ofthe leading artists were revealed for the first time. Conclusions. The article has demonstrated that Ukrainian male balletperformance as an independent phenomenon began its formation in the 1930s – 1940s, in the context of the reconstructionof ballets of classical heritage (Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Raymonda, Giselle, etc.), the formation and development ofa choreodrama (Red Poppy, The Fountain of Bakhchisaray, Laurencia, etc.), including Ukrainian national ballets (Lileia, ForestSong, etc.). It has been stated that the leading ballet dancers of this period (O. Sehal, B. Stepanenko, O. Stalinskyi, etc.) wereprofessionally trained. The article has revealed the main features of male performance – pronounced acting skills, a high levelof pantomime proficiency as the main expressive means of a drama ballet, a limited number of dance steps in male parts. Thepositive dynamics of the growth of male dance performance was interrupted by the Second World War, during which balletdancers performed at the fronts and in evacuation. In the post-war period, the repertoire of ballet theatres was restored andenriched, but the dominance of director’s principles over choreographic ones led to the crisis of the emasculation of the dancecomponent from the male parts.