The Genre of Ballet in the Co-Creation of Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins (based on the “Fancy Free” ballet)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the distinctive features of the works of the American composer Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990) in the ballet genre and the tandem of the music creator and the choreographer. A signifi cant contribution to art was made by the joint work of Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins. The author of the article examines the role of music in the work of the 20th century, the stylistic features relating to this period, the history of the classical dance development in the United States of America and the importance of teamwork between two creators. The previous century was marked by the enrichment of the musical word in the ballet performances context: the orchestra becomes not only a mechanism accompanying dancers, but also a full-fl edged part of the performance. Music acquires specifi city in character and conveys the images of the heroes. In the canvas of the performance one can guess the leitmotifs related to each image, running like a red thread through the entire form of the work. “Fancy free” is a work that occupies a special place in the composer’s creative legacy. Subsequently, the musical language of “Fancy Free” can be found in Leo Bernstein’s future works – the musicals “In the City” and “West Side Story”; the author’s handwriting remained true to the style.