Sign-In
Cart
Nicolai Serguéeff and the Sleeping Beauty: A Living Ballet Tradition
Hardcover
ISBN13: 9780813079486
Publisher: University Press of Florida
Published: Feb 17 2026
Pages: 288
Weight: 1.52
Height: 0.94 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Tracing the legacy of the man who preserved The Sleeping Beauty's choreography, through the classic ballet's evolution from the nineteenth century to the present
Nicolai Serguéeff and The Sleeping Beauty explores the legacy of a former Russian imperial rehearsal director who fled postrevolutionary Russia with the most complete choreographic records of Marius Petipa's ballet masterpiece, set to music by Tchaikovsky and first performed in the late nineteenth century. This book traces the impact of this act of preservation on more than a century of Sleeping Beauty productions, examining the resilience of the ballet even as artists have adapted and reinterpreted its traditions to suit changing circumstances.
Nicolai Serguéeff's scores, written in Stepanov notation, became a key resource for staging the ballet around the world. In this book, Maureen Gupta explores five landmark productions of The Sleeping Beauty: productions staged in London by Serguéeff for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes (1921), Ninette de Valois's Vic-Wells Ballet (1939), and Mona Inglesby's International Ballet (1948); and two recent historical reconstructions using Serguéeff's notations directed by Sergei Vikharev for the Mariinsky/Kirov Ballet (1999) and by Alexei Ratmansky for American Ballet Theatre/La Scala (2015).
Through extensive archival research, Gupta provides insight into the nineteenth-century Russian ballet while also highlighting its living tradition and continued relevance. This book demonstrates how The Sleeping Beauty has evolved while maintaining its classical core, resulting in an essential case study for dancers, historians, and choreographers. It combines dance history, musicology, and performance studies to show how a ballet can be both timeless and ever-changing.
Also in
Dance
Muévelo: The Enduring Legacy of Latin Music Across Borders
Zoila Pérez, Miriam
Bayetti Flores, Verónica
Hardcover
Infinite Steps: Thirty-Three Dancers and Their Lives in Ballet
Larsen, Gavin
Schiavone, Gene
Paperback
The Taylor Swift Book: The Ultimate Guide to the Music, Life, Eras, and Legacy of an Icon
MacKenzie, Malcolm
Hardcover
Feel the Floor: Restoring the Life and Legacy of Jazz Choreographer Buddy Bradley
Footer, Maureen
Hardcover
Appreciating Dance: A Guide to the World's Liveliest Art
Editors of Dance Horizons
Lihs, Harriet
Paperback
Critique Is Creative: The Critical Response Process(r) in Theory and Action
Lerman, Liz
Borstel, John
Paperback
The Ballerina Mindset: How to Protect Your Mental Health While Striving for Excellence
Fairchild, Megan
Paperback
Modern Watercolor Botanicals: A Creative Workshop in Watercolor, Gouache, & Ink
Simon, Sarah
Paperback
Rock Steady for Life: Bringing Breakdancing to the World
Crew, The Rock Steady
Colón, Richard Crazy Legs
Hardcover
Barre Fitness: Barre Exercises You Can Do Anywhere for Flexibility, Core Strength, and a Lean Body
Halfpapp, Elisabeth
DeVito, Fred
Paperback
Applied Anatomy of Aerial Arts: An Illustrated Guide to Strength, Flexibility, Training, and Injury Prevention
Scherb, Emily
Paperback
Dancing in Petersburg: The Memoirs of Kschessinska - Prima Ballerina of the Russian Imperial Theatre, and Mistress of the future Tsar Nicholas II
Kschessinska, Mathilde
Paperback
Mura Dehn: Champion of Black Social Dance and the Traditional Jazz Dance Company
Vaccaro, Kim Chandler
Paperback
The Artistry of Merce Cunningham: Choreography, Technique, Creativity
Eliot, Karen
Roberts, Daniel
Paperback
100 Lessons in Classical Ballet: The Eight-Year Program of Leningrad's Vaganova Choreographic School
Kostrovitskaya, Vera S.
Paperback
Caught Falling: The Confluence of Contact Improvisation, Nancy Stark Smith, and Other Moving Ideas
Koteen, David
Smith, Nancy Stark
Paperback
Musical Theatre Choreography: Reflections of My Artistic Process for Staging Musicals
Sabo, Linda
Paperback
Conditioning for Dance 2nd Edition: Training for Whole-Body Coordination and Efficiency
Franklin, Eric
Paperback
Martha Graham's Greek Myth-Based Dances and Her Collaboration with Isamu Noguchi
Ancona, Ronnie
Hardcover
Inside Ballet Technique: Separating Anatomical Fact from Fiction in the Ballet Class
Grieg, Valerie
Paperback
Handbook in Motion: An Account of an Ongoing Personal Discourse and Its Manifestations in Dance
Forti, Simone
Paperback
Ballet for Life: Exercises and Inspiration from the World of Ballet Beautiful
Bowers, Mary Helen
Hardcover
Dancing Freedom: Modern Dance in Late Imperial Russia and the Early Soviet Union
Sirotkina, Irina
Hardcover
The Souths in Her: Black Women Writers and Choreographers and the Poetics of Transmutation
Morris Johnson, Nicole M.
Paperback
Solkattu Manual: An Introduction to the Rhythmic Language of South Indian Music
Nelson, David P.
Paperback
Dance Pedagogy for a Diverse World: Culturally Relevant Teaching in Theory, Research and Practice
McCarthy-Brown, Nyama
Paperback
The Creative Screenwriter: 12 Rules to Follow--And Break--To Unlock Your Screenwriting Potential
Hoxter, Julian
Paperback
Grandmother's Secrets: The Ancient Rituals and Healing Power of Belly Dancing
Al-Rawi, Rosina-Fawzia
Paperback
Still Moving: Conversations with Senior Professional Dancers Still Performing
York-Pryce, Sonia
Hardcover
The Cecchetti Method of Classical Ballet: Theory and Technique
Idzikowski, Stanislas
Beaumont, Cyril W.
Paperback
The Color of Dance: A Celebration of Diversity and Inclusion in the World of Ballet
Wallace-McMillian, Takiyah
Hardcover
Healing Journeys with the Black Madonna: Chants, Music, and Sacred Practices of the Great Goddess
Belloni, Alessandra
Paperback
Long Live: The Definitive Guide to the Folklore and Fandom of Taylor Swift
Pomarico, Nicole
Hardcover
Dance Studio TRANSFORMATION: Build a 7-figure studio, increase your community impact and GET BACK YOUR LIFE!
Salter, Clint
Paperback
Starting in First: Finding your sparkle and learning to shine on and off the stage.
Jurczak, Shauna Allyn
Paperback
Hollow Bone: A Naïve Wanderer's Journey from Outback to Opening Night
Warren, Gretchen Ward
Paperback
From the Heart of a Dancer: Daily Devotional for Dancers & Worshippers
Greene, Julia
Taylor, Eslyn
Paperback
Made in Nuyorico: Fania Records, Latin Music, and Salsa's Nuyorican Meanings
Negrón, Marisol
Paperback
Ballet Beautiful: Transform Your Body and Gain the Strength, Grace, and Focus of a Ballet Dancer
Bowers, Mary Helen
Paperback
Belly Dancing for Fitness: The Ultimate Dance Workout That Unleashes Your Creative Spirit
Dallal, Tamalyn
Paperback
Ballet Russes: The Great Ballet Russes and Modern Art: A World of Fascinating Art and Design in Theatrical Arts
Unno, Hiroshi
Paperback
The Dancer's Toolkit: A Step-by-Step Guide for Navigating Your Dance Career
Mécène, Virginie
Paperback
The Hippest Trip in America: Soul Train and the Evolution of Culture & Style
George, Nelson
Paperback
Straight White Men Can't Dance: American Masculinity in Film and Popular Culture
Tsai, Addie
Hardcover
Mura Dehn: Champion of Black Social Dance and the Traditional Jazz Dance Company
Vaccaro, Kim Chandler
Hardcover
Flamenco Dance for Beginners: Learn Passionate Arm Styling, Footwork Technique, and Spanish Rhythm
Fink, Michael
Paperback
The Recruitable Dancer: The Essential Guide to Navigating College Admissions and the Dance Team Journey
Hain-de Jong, Kathy
Paperback