George Balanchine’s teaching method in the context of the Russian ballet school traditions: Analysis of a 1970s classical dance class

The article is devoted to the study of George Balanchine’s teaching method, examined through the structure and content of a classical dance class from the 1970s recorded by Barbara Walczak. The research focuses on the classical dance class as an integrated pedagogical and artistic model. The analysis is conducted within a cultural and historical framework that considers the evolution of ballet art in the twentieth century, the specificity of the American theatrical and educational environment, and the formation of neoclassical aesthetics. Particular attention is given to the reinterpretation of the traditions of the Russian ballet school in Balanchine’s pedagogical practice. This perspective allows his method to be understood as a synthesis of pedagogical, stylistic, and aesthetic principles that shaped professional ballet training in the twentieth century. The study draws on historical-cultural inquiry, structural and formal stylistic analysis, comparative perspectives, and analysis of documented class materials.vThe key features of Balanchine's approach are identified: centralization of the body to enhance the dynamic quality of movement, the use of musical accentuation, syncopation, and varied rhythmic patterns. The analysis demonstrates that the structure of the 1970s class follows the canons of the academic exercise while showing variability in the composition and sequence of movements. The combinations consist of several elements and often include an internal progression related to the acceleration of tempo-rhythm or changes in the amplitude. Comparison with Agrippina Vaganova’s system reveals shared historical foundations alongside differences in methodological emphasis. The study clarifies the role of Balanchine’s pedagogy in the development of the Russian ballet tradition of the twentieth century as a continuation and transformation of the St. Petersburg ballet school within a new cultural environment.