The Ballets Russes and a Revolution in Theatre Design

When Serge Diaghilev (1872-1929) led a large host of dancers from the Imperial Russian Ballet to the Paris stage in 1909, he stunned his audiences. They had to question their belief that ballet was a minor art form and accept that when fabulous set and costume designs, fascinating music, and dance of the highest quality were brought together in full evening performances, the results could be truly seminal.