Russian ball culture in the first half of 18th century
(Eugenia Eremina-Solenikova)

By the end of the 17th century, the Russian kingdom was a country that followed its own traditions. It kept apart from Western Europe. We know for sure that there were no balls in Russia at that time. After Peter the Great became the full-fledged ruler of Russia, he founded St. Petersburg and began to introduce dance culture everywhere. And after 50 years, during the reign of Peter’s daughter Elizabeth, they said about Russian balls that in St. Petersburg within a month all the Parisian novelties were danced. Undoubtedly, this was an incredible progress: within half a century a culture of balls was created, new traditions were instilled, a steady interest of Russian society in dancing was created.

Russian culture has always been heavily dependent on the will and interests of emperors. The study of the reign of Peter shows that during the assemblies of that period, numerous new dances were introduced into Russian culture. Under the regency of Anna Ioannovna, balls were held regularly in St. Petersburg. A tradition was formed of regular imperial balls associated with important dates. It was Anna Ioannovna who authorized dance education in Russia, and teachers arrived who also gave private lessons. At her command a dance school was created, now known around the world as the Vaganova Ballet Academy.

Under Elizabeth there was a surge in ballroom culture, in particular, masquerades came into fashion. The dancing skills of the courtiers (who were observed by all of Russia) were developing. Also under Elizabeth, the first dance teachers of Russian origin appeared.

Eugenia Eremina-Solenikova, St. Petersburg, Russland:

PhD student in the Vaganova Ballet Academy, member of the scientific committee of the annual dance reconstruction conference at the Vaganova Ballet Academy, scientific editor of the proceedings of the conference.