Ballet in the Cold War: A Soviet-American Exchange

The Bolshoi Ballet's first performances in the US in 1959 were part of a Soviet-American cultural exchange. The tours opened up space for genuine appreciation of foreign ballet, but also began a series of deep misunderstandings between American and Soviet audiences. This book demonstrates that the separation between Soviet and American ballet lies less in how the ballets look and sound, and more in the ways that Soviet and American viewers were trained to see and hear.

Format: Hardback
Length: 190 pages
Publication date: 13 November 2020
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The Bolshoi Ballet embarked on its inaugural performances in the United States in 1959, marking a significant milestone in the cultural exchange between the Soviet Union and the United States. This tour was orchestrated as part of Cold War strategies by the governments of both nations. This captivating book delves into the initial tours organized by the Bolshoi in 1959 and 1962, as well as those by the American Ballet Theatre in 1960 and the New York City Ballet in 1962. These tours played a pivotal role in fostering a genuine appreciation for foreign ballet, generating excitement among American fans who eagerly lined up overnight to secure tickets to witness the Bolshoi's exceptional performances. Soviet audiences, in turn, packed massive theaters to catch a glimpse of American ballet companies, creating a vibrant atmosphere of cultural exchange.

However, these tours also initiated a series of profound misunderstandings that stemmed from the differing perspectives of American and Soviet audiences regarding ballet. While Americans were captivated by the Soviet dancers' exceptional skills and artistry, they perceived Soviet ballets as outdated and vulgar. Soviet audiences and critics, on the other hand, admired American technique and innovation but found American choreography lacking in depth and emotional resonance.

This book employs a comprehensive range of Russian- and English-language archival sources to shed light on the underlying differences between Soviet and American ballet. It demonstrates that the divide between these two styles of ballet lies not in the visual or auditory aspects but rather in the ways in which Soviet and American viewers were trained to perceive and interpret ballet. By exploring these cultural nuances, the book offers fresh insights into Cold War cultural diplomacy and twentieth-century ballet, challenging prevailing narratives and prompting a deeper understanding of these complex artistic expressions.

Weight: 446g
Dimension: 243 x 163 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190945107