The Gran Ballo Sport: The Apotheosis of Sport at La Scala1

Abstract

In 1897 Milan’s La Scala Theatre mounted a massive narrative ballet entitled simply Sport. It was a celebration in dance and spectacle of such activities as mountain climbing, horseracing, skating, gymnastics, hunting, and cycling. The ‘gran ballo’ featured some 300 dancers, an orchestra of 100 augmented by a brass band of 30, mimes, live horses and other assorted supernumeraries. The ballet was partly inspired by the 1896 Olympic Games which raised Italian interest in sport as well as encouraging a strong sense of internationalism. Sport consisted of six scenes, each taking place in a different region of the world, from Canada to Europe. Sport was an example of an ‘up-to-date’ ballet which tackled modern fads and issues; it also starred dancers who wore modern dress rather than tutus and tights. Its revolutionary plot acclaimed both feminism and women’s participation in games. The grand finale consisted of a march of hundreds of real athletes and a spectacular ‘Apotheosis of Sport.’