This spring, Charlottesville Ballet will premiere a new children’s ballet of the classic Russian fairytale, The Firebird. The ballet is full of magic and romance, and tells the story of the handsome Prince Ivan, his beautiful Princess Katerina, and the magical Firebird that saves them.
The Firebird ballet was originally choreographed by Mikhail Fokine, set to music by Igor Stravinsky, and premiered in 1910 by the famous Ballet Russes. Even today, companies around the world still perform versions of the original choreography!
Charlottesville Ballet has written our own version of the The Story of the Firebird– a children’s ballet version that’s not quite as scary as some of the traditional tales! Check out our version of the story below and look for our upcoming series to meet the characters from our version of The Firebird!
One day, Prince Ivan goes hunting in an Enchanted Forest. Out of nowhere appears the Firebird, a magical and stunning bird who resembles a beautiful woman. He captures her and they dance an exciting pas de deux in which the Firebird begs for her freedom. In exchange for releasing her, the Firebird gives Ivan one of her magical feathers that he may use to call on her whenever he is in a time of great danger.
The Firebird then disappears and Ivan is again alone in the Forest…or so he thinks! A beautiful Princess appears and Ivan falls in love with her at first sight. Ivan hides so she cannot see him, and he watches the Princess and her friends dance with Magic Golden Apples. All of a sudden, the Princesses see Ivan and are instantly afraid. The Princess Katerina, the loveliest of all the Princesses, steps forward as Ivan gives her an apple. Katerina and Ivan dance together as the other Princesses look on.
Ivan learns that the Princesses are held captive by the Evil Kotschei…a lonely sorcerer who keeps them trapped in his Enchanted Forest. The Princesses quickly run away in fear, and Ivan is captured by the Kotschei’s Minions of the Land and Sky. Ivan is held prisoner as Kotschei, his Minions, and the Forest Maidens appear and come together in an Infernal Dance of madness.
Prince Ivan calls upon the Firebird with his magic feather to come to his aid to save Katerina and the Princess. The Firebird appears in all her splendor, and she makes everyone dance until they fall down in a calm sleep.
The Evil Kotschei is vanquished, and Ivan and Katerina are overjoyed to be together. Katerina and Ivan are married in a glorious ceremony, where the Princesses celebrate their newfound freedom. The Firebird watches over the Kingdom as Prince Ivan and Princess Katerina rule over their happy subjects for the rest of their lives.
…and they all lived happily ever after!
Check out this video from Khan Academy on the traditional story and the music from Igor Stravinsky’s “The Firebird” Suites!