ADVERTISEMENT
Monday, May 19, 2025
SUBSCRIBE
The Ballet Herald®
  • BALLET MAGAZINE
    • Ballet, Contemporary, and Modern Dance Performance Reviews
    • Interviews with Ballet Professionals
    • The Latest Ballet News
    • Feature Ballet Stories
    • Ballet Schools & Training
    • On This Day in Ballet History
    • Opinions
    • Ballet Meets the Mainstream
  • BALLET COMPANIES
    • Ballet Companies in Asia
      • Hong Kong Ballet
      • National Ballet of China
      • National Ballet of Japan
      • Singapore Ballet
    • Ballet Companies in Europe
      • Bavarian State Ballet
      • Birmingham Royal Ballet
      • Compañía Nacional de Danza
      • Dutch National Ballet
      • English National Ballet
      • Finnish National Ballet
      • Hamburg Ballet
      • Hungarian National Ballet
      • La Scala Theatre Ballet
      • Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo
      • London City Ballet
      • Mariinsky Ballet
      • Mikhailovsky Ballet
      • National Ballet of Ukraine
      • Northern Ballet
      • Norwegian National Ballet
      • Paris Opera Ballet
      • Polish National Ballet
      • Royal Ballet of Flanders
      • Royal Danish Ballet
      • Royal Swedish Ballet
      • Scottish Ballet
      • State Ballet of Georgia
      • The Royal Ballet
      • The Stuttgart Ballet
      • Varna International Ballet
      • Vienna State Ballet
    • Ballet Companies in North America
      • Alabama Ballet
      • Alberta Ballet
      • American Ballet Theatre
      • American Contemporary Ballet
      • American Repertory Ballet
      • Atlanta Ballet
      • Avant Chamber Ballet
      • BalletX
      • Ballet Arizona
      • Ballet Arkansas
      • Ballet Austin
      • Ballet Idaho
      • Ballet Memphis
      • Ballet North Texas
      • Ballet Tucson
      • Ballet West
      • BalletMet
      • Boston Ballet
      • Carolina Ballet
      • Charlotte Ballet
      • Cincinnati Ballet
      • City Ballet of San Diego
      • Cleveland Ballet
      • Colorado Ballet
      • Complexions Contemporary Ballet
      • Dance Theatre of Harlem
      • Eugene Ballet
      • Grand Rapids Ballet
      • Hollywood Ballet
      • Houston Ballet
      • Indianapolis Ballet
      • Joffrey Ballet
      • Kansas City Ballet
      • Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
      • Les Grands Ballets
      • Los Angeles Ballet
      • Madison Ballet
      • Miami City Ballet
      • Milwaukee Ballet
      • Nashville Ballet
      • New Jersey Ballet
      • New York City Ballet
      • Oklahoma City Ballet
      • Oregon Ballet Theatre
      • Orlando Ballet
      • Pacific Northwest Ballet
      • Philadelphia Ballet
      • Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
      • Richmond Ballet
      • Royal Winnipeg Ballet
      • Sacramento Ballet
      • Saint Louis Ballet
      • San Francisco Ballet
      • Sarasota Ballet
      • Smuin Contemporary Ballet
      • Texas Ballet Theater
      • The National Ballet of Canada
      • The Washington Ballet
      • Tulsa Ballet
    • Ballet Companies in Oceania
      • Queensland Ballet
      • Royal New Zealand Ballet
      • The Australian Ballet
  • BALLET PERFORMANCE CALENDAR
  • BALLET SHOWS IN…
    • Ballet Shows in Australia
    • Ballet Shows in Chicago
    • Ballet Shows in London
    • Ballet Shows in Los Angeles
    • Ballet Shows in New York City
    • Ballet Shows in Paris
    • Ballet Shows in Toronto
    • Ballet Shows in Washington, D.C.
  • FAMOUS BALLETS
    • A Midsummer Night’s Dream
    • Cinderella
    • Coppélia
    • Don Quixote
    • Giselle
    • La Bayadère
    • La Sylphide
    • Romeo and Juliet
    • Swan Lake
    • The Nutcracker
    • The Sleeping Beauty
  • MORE
    • Dance Jobs
    • 2025 Ballet Summer Intensive Programs
  • BALLET MAGAZINE
    • Ballet, Contemporary, and Modern Dance Performance Reviews
    • Interviews with Ballet Professionals
    • The Latest Ballet News
    • Feature Ballet Stories
    • Ballet Schools & Training
    • On This Day in Ballet History
    • Opinions
    • Ballet Meets the Mainstream
  • BALLET COMPANIES
    • Ballet Companies in Asia
      • Hong Kong Ballet
      • National Ballet of China
      • National Ballet of Japan
      • Singapore Ballet
    • Ballet Companies in Europe
      • Bavarian State Ballet
      • Birmingham Royal Ballet
      • Compañía Nacional de Danza
      • Dutch National Ballet
      • English National Ballet
      • Finnish National Ballet
      • Hamburg Ballet
      • Hungarian National Ballet
      • La Scala Theatre Ballet
      • Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo
      • London City Ballet
      • Mariinsky Ballet
      • Mikhailovsky Ballet
      • National Ballet of Ukraine
      • Northern Ballet
      • Norwegian National Ballet
      • Paris Opera Ballet
      • Polish National Ballet
      • Royal Ballet of Flanders
      • Royal Danish Ballet
      • Royal Swedish Ballet
      • Scottish Ballet
      • State Ballet of Georgia
      • The Royal Ballet
      • The Stuttgart Ballet
      • Varna International Ballet
      • Vienna State Ballet
    • Ballet Companies in North America
      • Alabama Ballet
      • Alberta Ballet
      • American Ballet Theatre
      • American Contemporary Ballet
      • American Repertory Ballet
      • Atlanta Ballet
      • Avant Chamber Ballet
      • BalletX
      • Ballet Arizona
      • Ballet Arkansas
      • Ballet Austin
      • Ballet Idaho
      • Ballet Memphis
      • Ballet North Texas
      • Ballet Tucson
      • Ballet West
      • BalletMet
      • Boston Ballet
      • Carolina Ballet
      • Charlotte Ballet
      • Cincinnati Ballet
      • City Ballet of San Diego
      • Cleveland Ballet
      • Colorado Ballet
      • Complexions Contemporary Ballet
      • Dance Theatre of Harlem
      • Eugene Ballet
      • Grand Rapids Ballet
      • Hollywood Ballet
      • Houston Ballet
      • Indianapolis Ballet
      • Joffrey Ballet
      • Kansas City Ballet
      • Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
      • Les Grands Ballets
      • Los Angeles Ballet
      • Madison Ballet
      • Miami City Ballet
      • Milwaukee Ballet
      • Nashville Ballet
      • New Jersey Ballet
      • New York City Ballet
      • Oklahoma City Ballet
      • Oregon Ballet Theatre
      • Orlando Ballet
      • Pacific Northwest Ballet
      • Philadelphia Ballet
      • Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
      • Richmond Ballet
      • Royal Winnipeg Ballet
      • Sacramento Ballet
      • Saint Louis Ballet
      • San Francisco Ballet
      • Sarasota Ballet
      • Smuin Contemporary Ballet
      • Texas Ballet Theater
      • The National Ballet of Canada
      • The Washington Ballet
      • Tulsa Ballet
    • Ballet Companies in Oceania
      • Queensland Ballet
      • Royal New Zealand Ballet
      • The Australian Ballet
  • BALLET PERFORMANCE CALENDAR
  • BALLET SHOWS IN…
    • Ballet Shows in Australia
    • Ballet Shows in Chicago
    • Ballet Shows in London
    • Ballet Shows in Los Angeles
    • Ballet Shows in New York City
    • Ballet Shows in Paris
    • Ballet Shows in Toronto
    • Ballet Shows in Washington, D.C.
  • FAMOUS BALLETS
    • A Midsummer Night’s Dream
    • Cinderella
    • Coppélia
    • Don Quixote
    • Giselle
    • La Bayadère
    • La Sylphide
    • Romeo and Juliet
    • Swan Lake
    • The Nutcracker
    • The Sleeping Beauty
  • MORE
    • Dance Jobs
    • 2025 Ballet Summer Intensive Programs
No Result
View All Result
The Ballet Herald®
Home Ballet Magazine On This Day in Ballet History

Carmen: Classical Ballet’s Timeless Antiheroine

Kendall TerashimaCherilyn J. LeebyKendall TerashimaandCherilyn J. Lee
February 21, 2021 - Updated on July 23, 2024
in On This Day in Ballet History
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
Carmen - Classical Ballet's Timeless Antiheroine

Carmen: Classical Ballet's Timeless Antiheroine

On February 21, 1949, Roland Petit’s Carmen made its world premiere at the Prince’s Theatre in London.

Based on the 1845 novella by Prosper Mérimée with composition from Georges Bizet’s 1875 opera of the same name, the passion throughout all of the ballet’s renditions has made it a hugely successful, timeless story.

While many ballets of the same stature of success can attribute their balletic origins to one choreographer, Carmen has been reimagined by so many influential masters that finding one world premiere is hard to pin down. However, Petit’s 1949 adaption was the first time choreography set to the famed opera composition was given a world stage.

Carmen will likely remain one of ballet’s most beloved antiheroines to take the stage for years to come, as she has been for so many years past. After myriad reimaginings of the story, the passion, violence, and seduction are never lost. The story keeps its integrity through these elements, and is loved by audiences time and time again.

 

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Prosper Mérimée's Novella
  • Georges Bizet's Opera
  • 1949 Ballet Premiere
  • Other Ballet Versions of Carmen
    • Sources

 

Prosper Mérimée’s Novella

The original story of Carmen reads from the perspective of the author, Prosper Mérimée, as he journeys through Spain on academic business in the 1830s.

The novella is separated into four sections, the first two and last of which were omitted by Georges Bizet’s opera and most stage adaptions to follow.

In section one, Mérimée meets Don José, a kind and hospitable young man whom he assists in evading arrest after Mérimée’s guide discovers Don José’s true identity as a wanted thief.

In the second section, Mérimée has another fascinating interaction, this time with a gypsy woman named Carmencita. He goes to her home in hopes of having his fortune read but is rudely interrupted by none other than Don José. Carmencita and Don José have a heated conversation in a language Mérimée does not understand, but shortly after he is escorted out by Don José and continues on his solo adventure.

Months later, Mérimée finds out that Don José is set to be executed the next day. Mérimée goes to visit the prisoner and hear his life’s story.

Part three is where the staged adaptations normally begin. Don José tells the writer about how he came to know the gypsy and how he ended up in jail. They became lovers after Don José helped Carmen escape from jail, but shortly thereafter became violently jealous of her other suitors.

Two were slain by Don José, but Carmen still chose another man over him. Don José was so overcome by passion and jealousy that he stabbed his beloved to death and turned himself in.

Part four simply explains Romani culture and some of their history.

 

 

Georges Bizet’s Opera

The tragic opéra comique premiered in March of 1875 by French composer Georges Bizet. Upon its first appearance, audiences found it vulgar due to female characters who would cheat and rob, as well as graphic scenes of murder.

After a decade of it’s premiere, Carmen gained positive attention from critics and remains one of the most popular operas to this day.

This first stage rendition is where Prosper Mérimée’s point of view and character are lost altogether in order to focus on the relationship between Don José and Carmen, i.e. the latter’s husband.

 

 

1949 Ballet Premiere

Over a century after the publication of the novella, Roland Petit’s Carmen ballet premiered.

The ballet was set in three acts and first performed in the Prince’s Theatre in London. The movement style is characterized as mimetic and angular, not unlike the majority of Petit’s other works. The gypsy elements of the protagonist are mostly omitted – she was remade as a short-haired, short-dressed woman who is more French than gypsy.

The original cast included Petit’s wife, Zizi Jeanmaire, as the title character, Petit himself as Don José, and Serge Perrault as Le Toréador. The music was based on Bizet’s opera, but newly arranged and orchestrated by Tommy Desserr.

⊙ Synopsis

The ballet begins in the center of Seville, Spain. A crowd is dispersed by the young Carmen chasing and beginning to fight another girl. The guard Don José breaks up the fight and is about to arrest Carmen, but is struck by her beauty and lets her go, inviting her on a date.

That evening, the two meet at a tavern and dance together. They go to his room and the tavern dwellers dance. The couple plans a robbery, but it does not go as planned and after Don José kills one of the victims, he flees the scene.

Finally, at a bullfight, Carmen flirts with Escamillo, enraging Don José, who stabs and kills his lover.

 

 

Other Ballet Versions of Carmen

⊙ Carmen Suite (1967)

Since Petit’s 1949 production, several other notable versions of the ballet have been produced all over the world. The best known of which is Carmen Suite, choreographed by Alberto Alonso of Cuba. Alonso used music by Rodion Shchedrin based on Bizet but made for orchestra; it was performed by the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow.

⊙ Carmen (1983)

Later, in 1983, Carmen was choreographed by Spanish dance makers Antonio Gades and Carlos Saura. This ballet was performed in the Théâtre de Paris by the Antonio Gades Company. The music used for this production was by Bizet with additions by Gades and at least three other artists.

According to Gades, “I did Carmen because I didn’t like the stereotyped false image of her. She’s a woman who when she loves gives herself wholly and who never forgets what class she is even in the most exalted company”.

⊙ Carmen, Solo (2006)

Petit produced a new version of the ballet titled Carmen, Solo in 2006 which incorporates bits of Carmen, Don José, and the Toreador. This piece was first performed by Nikolay Tsiskaridze and debuted at the New York City Center for the “Kings of Dance” production.

⊙ Carmen (2009)

While still managing to capture the essence of the characters, the most reworked rendition of Carmen is set in modern times and includes a lot of major changes.

“This [Jorma Elo’s] is a stylish Carmen with an edge,” says Boston Ballet Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen. “By bringing the setting into the chic 21st century, we produced the classic story through contemporary dance language in a stimulating and visually stunning way that resonates with today’s people and with our audiences.”

 

 


Sources

  • Boston Ballet
  • Britannica
  • Columbia University
  • The New York Times
  • Opéra National de Paris
  • The Petipa Society

Featured Photo for Classical Ballet’s Timeless Antiheroine captured from Royal New Zealand Ballet’s video

Tags: CarmenMarius Petipa
Kendall Terashima

Kendall Terashima

Kendall grew up in Raleigh, NC where she studied ballet, modern, and jazz under the direction of Sandra Zellinger, Cherilyn Joy Lee, and Andrew Lamar. She has performed with Carolina Ballet in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, and The Little Mermaid on various occasions. In 2016 and 2017, Kendall taught alongside Willie Hinton at the Carolina Ballet Summer Intensive. After acceptance into the Joffrey school at age 10, she decided to stay in North Carolina to complete a study of the Cecchetti Method with Rosina DeVries. She has completed grades I-VI, scoring Highly Commended or Commended on all levels. She is now working toward undergraduate degrees in Advertising and Public Relations as well as a minor in dance at Appalachian State University while in her third year of teaching at a local studio.

Cherilyn J. Lee

Cherilyn J. Lee

Cherilyn's lifelong passion for ballet has opened the door to the next chapter of her journey. Her strong foundation includes training at the School of American Ballet, being a featured dancer with Hartford Ballet and Carolina Ballet, and being co-director/owner of City Ballet Raleigh. She was granted the Affiliate Teacher Award after successfully completing the ABT National Training Curriculum®. A professional career in the industry along with extensive global travel provide her with a unique set of experiences to draw upon as a journalist and audience member. Cherilyn is excited to be sharing her insight and news about ballet around the world.

Comments 1

  1. Naomi Terashima says:
    4 years ago

    I don’t know enough about ballet to offer constructive comments. However, this article is very well written by a first time writer Kendall Terashima. I hope to read many more of her light reading but well researched and written articles.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Receive a roundup of ballet news & performances direct to your inbox.

The most interesting ballet news and stories of the week.

You may also be interested in...

The Stuttgart Ballet Returns to Kennedy Center

The Stuttgart Ballet Returns to Kennedy Center After More Than 30 Years

May 19, 2025
Gibney Company Joyce Review 2025

Gibney Company at the Joyce Review: A Few Choreographic Explorations

May 13, 2025
The Grey Swan: Where Retired Dancers Take the Stage Again

The Grey Swan: Where Retired Dancers Take the Stage Again

May 9, 2025
Guillaume Côté Bids Adieu to the National Ballet of Canada

Guillaume Côté Bids a Fond Adieu to the National Ballet of Canada

May 7, 2025
Ten Times Better - Dancer George Lee

Ten Times Better: (Re)Turning the Spotlight on Dancer George Lee

May 6, 2025 - Updated on May 13, 2025
The Ballet Herald®

SECTIONS

  • Dance Performance Reviews
  • Interviews with Ballet Professionals
  • Feature Ballet Stories
  • The Latest Ballet News
  • Ballet Schools & Training
  • Opinions

FAMOUS BALLETS

  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • Cinderella
  • Coppélia
  • Don Quixote
  • Giselle
  • La Bayadère
  • La Sylphide
  • Romeo and Juliet
  • Swan Lake
  • The Nutcracker
  • The Sleeping Beauty

MORE

  • Ballet Performances
  • Ballet Companies
  • Ballet Summer Intensives
  • Dance Jobs

COMPANY

  • About
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Advertisement & Paid Content Opportunities

© 2025 The Ballet Herald™ by BalletNomad, LLC®

Receive a roundup of ballet news & performances direct to your inbox.

The most interesting ballet news and stories of the week.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home Page
  • Ballet Performance Calendar
  • Ballet Magazine
    • Ballet, Contemporary, and Modern Dance Performance Reviews
    • Interviews with Ballet Professionals
    • The Latest Ballet News
    • Feature Ballet Stories
    • Ballet Schools & Training
    • On This Day in Ballet History
    • Opinions
    • Ballet Meets the Mainstream
  • Ballet Shows In…
    • Ballet Shows in Australia
    • Ballet Shows in Chicago
    • Ballet Shows in London
    • Ballet Shows in Los Angeles
    • Ballet Shows in New York City
    • Ballet Shows in Paris
    • Ballet Shows in Toronto
    • Ballet Shows in Washington, D.C.
  • Famous Ballets
    • A Midsummer Night’s Dream
    • Cinderella
    • Coppélia
    • Don Quixote
    • Giselle
    • La Bayadère
    • La Sylphide
    • Romeo and Juliet
    • The Nutcracker
    • Swan Lake
    • The Sleeping Beauty
  • List of Ballet Companies
  • 2025 Ballet Summer Intensives
  • Dance Jobs
  • ⊙ About
  • ⊙ Contact
  • ⊙ Advertisement & Paid Content Opportunities
  • ⊙ Privacy Policy
  • ☕ Buy us a coffee!

© 2025 The Ballet Herald™ by BalletNomad, LLC®

Receive a roundup of ballet news & performances direct to your inbox.

The most interesting ballet news and stories of the week.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home Page
  • Ballet Performance Calendar
  • Ballet Magazine
    • Ballet, Contemporary, and Modern Dance Performance Reviews
    • Interviews with Ballet Professionals
    • The Latest Ballet News
    • Feature Ballet Stories
    • Ballet Schools & Training
    • On This Day in Ballet History
    • Opinions
    • Ballet Meets the Mainstream
  • Ballet Shows In…
    • Ballet Shows in Australia
    • Ballet Shows in Chicago
    • Ballet Shows in London
    • Ballet Shows in Los Angeles
    • Ballet Shows in New York City
    • Ballet Shows in Paris
    • Ballet Shows in Toronto
    • Ballet Shows in Washington, D.C.
  • Famous Ballets
    • A Midsummer Night’s Dream
    • Cinderella
    • Coppélia
    • Don Quixote
    • Giselle
    • La Bayadère
    • La Sylphide
    • Romeo and Juliet
    • The Nutcracker
    • Swan Lake
    • The Sleeping Beauty
  • List of Ballet Companies
  • 2025 Ballet Summer Intensives
  • Dance Jobs
  • ⊙ About
  • ⊙ Contact
  • ⊙ Advertisement & Paid Content Opportunities
  • ⊙ Privacy Policy
  • ☕ Buy us a coffee!

© 2025 The Ballet Herald™ by BalletNomad, LLC®