The ballet that incited a riot - Iseult Gillespie

Dive into the history and controversy of Igor Stravinsky’s ballet, “The Rite of Spring,” which shattered the conventions of classical ballet.

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Ballet is typically thought of as harmonious, graceful and polished— hardly something that would trigger a riot. But at the first performance of Igor Stravinsky's “The Rite of Spring,” audience members were so outraged that they drowned out the orchestra. People hurled objects at the stage, started fights and were arrested. What caused this shocking reaction? Iseult Gillespie explains the controversy.

Lesson by Iseult Gillespie, directed by WOW-HOW Studio.

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[Shadowolf]

When you see someone not being graceful in a ballet
The audience: someone hold me back

[carlosgeonzon]

The background music is so agitating. Which prooves that the piece was phenomenal

[Matt]

Stravinsky: Guess you guys aren't ready for that yet, but your kids are gonna love it.

[b_uppy]

So actually, the audience wasn't sophisticated enough.

[poweroffriendship.]

As the times have passed, "The Rite Of Spring" was played while Dinosaurs were all gone to extinction in Disney's *_Fantasia._*

[soymikleo]

I haven't even finished the video but that animation tho 😍😍

[itscassexy]

I wish this talked more about Nijinski and the dancing itself. Yes, Stravinsky's score was a big part of the reason people rioted, but I feel like everyone just focuses on that aspect where the actual movements of the body in this ballet was so subversive of traditional ballet of the time. The choreography marks a huge cultural shift in the dance milieu of the time as Modern dance as we know it has its beginnings around this same time. I think that the Rite of Spring choreography is just as important as the music, so I wish this lesson got more into describing the dance and the important choreographic choices Nijinski made that caused such a strong reaction in the audience. I think that is an important part of discussing ballets.

[athomicritics]

you should do an episode on "the mute girl of Portici" as "The opera that started a revolution" which started belgian independance

[kaitlnwhite]

Stravinsky did both “The Rite of Spring” and “Firebird” which also both appear in Fantasia. Kudos to him.

[omeleteazulproducoes]

When you see TED-Ed talking about Stravinsky

**happy dissonant noises**

[merrittanimation]

One of my favorite scenes from this ballet is (their interpretation is shown at 2:33) when the sacrificed girl is chosen, and all the other young women not chosen dance in a rhythmic dance which contorts their bodies in strange ways. It's kinda terrifying honestly.

[pranjalshilkar]

Okay, I absolutely have to say that I have observed that this creator, Iseult Gillespie, brings the best and I mean, the BEST freaking lessons every single time. In the very minute chance that if you're reading this, you are FREAKING AWESOME !

[Cheshire]

In other words, the 1913 version of "how dare you put politcs into my art!"

[sarielpg]

Try being in marching band and doing a drill to Rite of Spring, you'll want to riot too. Seriously. We marched to part of Rite of Spring in college. It was...not fun.

[musicallydisneyamvs]

A good reminder that art is limitless not limited. Love this! Wonderful job.

[emmalinesheahan]

I think it's actually incorrect to refer to the ballet as "Stravinsky's" and I kind of don't appreciate how much Nijinsky was downplayed. Stravinsky was hired by Diaghilev to compose for the Ballet Russe, of which Nijinsky was the lead choreographer at the time. It was a collaborative effort if anything

[spyrosk.]

Fun fact: the last four chords played by the orchestra spell the word "D-E-A-D".

[Googledeservestodie]

"it opens with a solo bassoon" if anyone ever takes me to a play that starts with an epic bassoon solo I'd be moshing too

[sairbanana]

“Composed on the cusp of both the First World War and the Russian Revolution, the Rite of Spring seethes with urgency.” That gave me chills.

[Jonasanoj]

I knew that the video would be about “The Rite of Spring” as soon as I saw the title, school has taught me something after all! :D