REVISIONIST HISTORY: Spotlight on Duncan/Fokine

For this season’s performances (April 19-22), Brooklyn Ballet is embracing multifaceted dance styles and refashioning historical works. One of those works, conceived by Brooklyn Ballet Founding Artistic Director Lynn Parkerson, combines choreography by Isadora Duncan and Michel Fokine.

Lynn Parkerson puts that theory into practice with “Chopin Dances” a recreation of the works of these two giants of the dance world, performed by Brooklyn Ballet Company. To see these historic works side by side and in the flesh, check out Revisionist History April 19-22. Tickets are on sale now!

Top photo: Michel Fokine and Isadora Duncan

Lower photos: Brooklyn Ballet Company rehearses "Chopin Dances" by Richard Glover

Isadora Duncan is widely known as the “mother of modern dance”. She rejected the rigidity of ballet in favor of more expressive, natural movement, and her dancing became hugely popular in tours throughout Europe.

Michel Fokine was a Russian choreographer and dancer, and the first resident choreographer of the Ballet Russe. His choreography was groundbreaking for the time - his ballet dancers had more freedom of movement in the upper body - and historians speculated that he may have been influenced by Duncan after seeing her perform in Russia.