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What is different about Balanchine?

Author

William Harris

Updated on March 13, 2026

What is different about Balanchine?

The Balanchine Method is characterized by intense speed, deep plie, and a strong accent on lines. Balanchine ballet dancers must be very fit and extremely flexible. The method has many distinct arm positions and distinct and dramatic choreography.

What is a Chaines?

Chaînés or “chaîné turns” is when a dancer is performing a series of turns on both feet, picking up each foot back and forth in order to keep moving in a line or circle. It could easily be considered one of the most basic turning step or exercise because chaînés or “chaîné turns” don’t rely balancing on one leg.

What is the Balanchine aesthetic?

The Balanchine Technique is also referred to as a “style”: “Characteristics of this style include: extreme speed, a deep plié, an emphasis on line, en dehors pirouettes taken from a lunge in fourth position with a straight back leg and an athletic dance quality.”

What is the difference between Vaganova and Balanchine?

The Vaganova style is notorious for delicate arms, well-set poses, overall danciness and strict logic in the order and possibilities of the dance movements in class. Balanchine style is praised for fastness, sharpness, cleanliness, and phrasing.

What is George Balanchine’s style?

Balanchine’s style is described as “neoclassical”, that came as a reaction to the over-theatrical Romantic anti-classicism. An important particularity of his choreography was that he “de-emphasized plot in his ballet”, emphasizing the dance itself instead.

What are the 3 types of ballet?

Let’s start with the three main styles of ballet: classical, neoclassical and contemporary. They no doubt have many similarities, but the way of performing and the vocabulary and technical aspect of each are also quite different.

What is a Shane in ballet?

Definition of chaîné : a series of short usually fast turns by which a ballet dancer moves across the stage.

What makes Balanchine unique?

Balanchine developed a distinct technical style to accommodate his choreography. He stressed precise musical timing, and emphasized phrasing and syncopation in his classes. Balanchine wanted dancers to gobble up space, and gave classical technique a more streamlined look.

What is the Martha Graham technique?

Graham technique is a modern dance movement style and pedagogy created by American dancer and choreographer Martha Graham (1894–1991). Graham technique is based on the opposition between contraction and release, a concept based on the breathing cycle which has become a “trademark” of modern dance forms.

Is Vaganova better than rad?

RAD results are easier to attain (with many people receiving Distinction) whereas Vaganova students strive for the ever elusive gold medal of Distinction. If you receive a Distinction in Vaganova then you’ve really earned it and are most likely to succeed if you want a career in ballet.