The origins of ballet - Jennifer Tortorello and Adrienne Westwood

譯者: Ann Chen 審譯者: Max Chern

Can you imagine a party where every movement,

你可想像在一個宴會中，每個動作

from the slightest gesture to walking across the room,

從最細微的手勢到走過房間

and every visual detail,

和舉目所見的每個細節

from furniture to hemline length,

從傢俱到裙擺長度

were governed by a complex system of rules and procedures?

都受一個繁文縟節的系統所約制嗎？

For centuries, such rituals were commonplace for European nobility.

幾世紀以來，這些禮儀 在歐洲貴族是十分普遍

And while they've gone out of fashion,

雖然它們已是昨日黃花了

we recognize the components under a familiar label:

但我們可在這熟悉的用語認出它：

ballet.

就是「芭蕾」

Ballet, from Italian "balletto," or little dance,

「芭蕾 Ballet」 詞源於義大利語「balletto」或 小舞蹈

originated in Renaissance Italy as a combination of social dance

發源於義大利文藝復興時期， 是一種貴族聚會時

and choreographed display at aristocratic gatherings.

社交舞與編舞演出的結合

In many aspects, it was a way of controlling people in court

在許多方面， 它約束人們在宮廷中

with acceptable forms of behavior,

舉止行為得宜

such as the manner in which people stepped, bowed, or took someone's hand.

例如人們步行、鞠躬 或牽某人的手的方式

It also involved rules governing everything from attire

它也和一些規定有關， 無論衣著服飾

to where one could walk or sit in relation to the King.

或與國王同行、同坐時的遠近位置

Over time, the study of ballet became a central element of court life,

長久以來，學習芭蕾 變成宮廷生活的重要核心

and proper grasp of the etiquette could make or break one's success as a courtier.

而是否正確掌握這種禮儀， 也可能決定一位朝臣的成敗

Many of these court gestures can still be seen in modern ballet techniques.

許多這種宮廷舉止 仍可見於現代芭蕾的技巧中

Ballet was brought to France in the 16th century

芭蕾在十六世紀時 由 凱薩琳·德·美第奇 帶入法國

by Catherine de' Medici,

the Italian wife of King Henry II.

她是國王 亨利二世 的義籍妻子

As celebrations became more lavish, so did the dance,

隨著慶典日漸豪華 舞蹈也變得考究

with dancing masters teaching elaborate steps to young nobles

舞蹈老師教小貴族們精緻的舞步

and story elements providing a unifying theme.

帶入故事情節與表演主題合而為一

The focus shifted from participation to performance,

其形式重點由「參與」變為「表演」

and the form acquired more theatrical trappings,

此時需要更多戲劇的排場

such as professionally designed sets

例如專業設計的佈景

and a slightly raised platform or stage with curtains and wings.

以及稍微升起的平臺或舞臺 配有幕簾和兩側後台

But it was in the 17th century court of Louis XIV

但芭蕾是在十七世紀 路易十四 的宮廷

that ballet was refined into the art we know today.

才將它改進成我們今日所熟知的藝術

Louis himself had been trained in ballet from childhood.

路易本人從小就接受芭蕾訓練

His early role as the sun god Apollo at age fifteen

他早在十五歲時 扮演了太陽神阿波羅

cemented the central role ballet would play during his reign.

鞏固了芭蕾 在他執政時期的重要地位

It also earned him the title of Sun King,

這也為他贏得了「太陽王」的美名

with his splendid golden costume and choreography

他的金色華麗戲服以及舞蹈編排

that promoted the idea of the king as a divinely ordained ruler.

提昇了君權神授的觀念

Louis would go on to perform 80 roles in 40 major ballets,

路易後來在四十個重要芭蕾表演中 演過八十個角色

either as a majestic lead,

有時演威風的主角

or sometimes playing minor or comedic parts

有時先扮演小角色或滑稽角色

before emerging in the lead role as the end.

終場脫穎而出變為主角

He trained daily in ballet,

他每天接受芭蕾、

as well as fencing and riding,

擊劍及騎馬的訓練

and through his example,

經由他的榜樣

dancing became an essential skill for all gentlemen of the era.

舞蹈變為當時所有紳士必備的技藝

But Louis XIV's main contribution to ballet was not as a performer.

但路易對芭蕾的主要貢獻 並非作為表演者

His founding of the Royal Academy of Dance in 1661

他於 1661 年創立了「皇家舞蹈學院」

shifted control of ballet from local guilds to the royal court.

將芭蕾的掌控權 由民間團體轉到皇家宮廷

As director,

院長職位

he appointed his personal ballet master and frequent performance partner

他任命自己私人芭蕾老師 同時也是多次表演舞伴

Pierre Beauchamp,

皮埃爾·博尚 擔任

who codified the five main positions of the body still used today.

他彙整五個主要芭蕾舞姿勢， 沿用至今

Through is collaborations with Jean-Baptiste Lully,

透過和皇家音樂學院的院長 家尚-巴迪斯堤·盧利

the director of the Royal Music Academy,

and famed playwright Molière,

及著名劇作家 莫里哀 的合作

Beauchamp helped establish ballet as a grand spectacle.

博尚 幫芭蕾發展為華麗壯觀的演出

And in 1669, a separate ballet academy was founded.

1669 年，成立另一個芭蕾舞蹈學院

The Paris Opera Ballet survives today as the oldest ballet company in the world.

「巴黎歌劇院芭蕾舞團」至今仍在， 是世界最古老的芭蕾舞團

Ballet moved away from the royal court to the theater

芭蕾由皇家宮廷轉移到劇院

and survived the democratic revolutions and reforms

也熬過了民主革命 以及隨後在下個世紀中的革新

that followed over the next century.

With the advent of the romantic movement,

隨著浪漫主義運動的出現

fantasy and folklore themes became common motifs.

幻想及民間故事的題材 變為一般表演主軸

And though the influence of ballet in France would decline,

雖然芭蕾舞的影響力 在法國步入了衰落

other countries, such as Russia,

但其他國家，例如俄羅斯

would play a major role in its further development.

則扮演重要角色， 將它進一步發揚光大

Fortunately, today most of us don't have to learn a complicated set of steps

幸好，現在我們多數 不需要學習這套複雜舞步

just to socialize at a wedding.

只為到婚禮作社交活動

Instead, we can go to the theater to see professionals

反倒是我們可以到劇院 欣賞專業舞者

who spend their lives training rigorously

他們花無數時間接受嚴格訓練

to perform feats that would have been unimagineable in Louis XIV's day.

表演那連路易十四時代 也望塵莫及的精彩演出

翻譯：Ann Chen