Class Description
The Romantic movement of the nineteenth century impacted the ballet perhaps more than any other art form. Studying the Romantic ballet provides an opportunity to explore both the challenges of capturing an essentially ephemeral art form, and the transformation of that art form over time. Explore the artistic innovations, rich cultural context, and legacy of the Romantic ballet of the 1830s and 1840s, its legendary dancers, and such masterpieces as La Sylphide
and Giselle.
Presentations by the instructor and group discussions of readings, imagery, and video excerpts of performances, particularly of attempted “reconstructions” of nineteenth-century ballets, all will provide an opportunity to delve into the brilliant artistry and rich legacy of the Romantic ballet.
Jeffrey Nigro has had a professional relationship with the Art Institute of Chicago for over thirty years, including serving as Director of Adult Programs in the Department of Museum Education from 2003 to 2010. Jeff is currently a Research Associate in the Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium and an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Interpretation at the Art Institute. He also teaches Adult Education classes at the Newberry Library. Jeff is a frequent speaker for the Jane Austen Society of North America, and he is the former Regional Coordinator of the Greater Chicago region of the organization.
Materials List
Required
- Digital Course Packet
First Reading
- David Blayney Brown, “Introduction,” in Romanticism. London and New York: Phaidon Press Ltd., 2001: pp. 4-16.
Cost and Registration
6 Sessions, $270 ($243 for Newberry members, seniors, and students). Learn about becoming a member.
We now offer our classes at three different price options: Regular ($270), Community Supported ($255), and Sponsor ($285). Following the models of other institutions, we want to ensure that our classes are accessible to a wider audience while continuing to support our instructors. You may choose the price that best fits your situation when registering through Learning Stream.
To register multiple people for this class, please go through the course calendar in Learning Stream, our registration platform. When you select the course and register, you’ll be prompted to add another registrant.
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