The bluebird is a character that appears in several famous ballets, most notably The Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. The bluebird symbolizes happiness, prosperity, and the triumph of good over evil. Here is an overview of some of the major ballets that feature the bluebird:
The Sleeping Beauty
The bluebird plays a key role in the third act of Tchaikovsky’s 1890 ballet The Sleeping Beauty. In the story, Princess Aurora has been cursed by the evil fairy Carabosse to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into a deep sleep on her 16th birthday. After 100 years, Prince Désiré finally awakens Aurora with a kiss. The Lilac Fairy then summons the magical bluebird, who leads the prince and princess to the Kingdom of Sweets where they are greeted by dances from around the world.
In the ballet, the Bluebird Pas de Deux is a dance for the prince and princess, with the bluebird fluttering around them. It symbolizes their love conquering evil and their happiness together after the curse is broken. The bluebird’s dance is light, fast, and twittering as it darts around the couple. The music for the pas de deux features flute trills and high piccolo notes to evoke the bluebird’s song and movement.
Cinderella
The bluebird also makes an appearance in Sergei Prokofiev’s 1945 ballet Cinderella. In the story, Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother transforms a pumpkin into a golden carriage, mice into horses, and lizards into footmen to transport Cinderella to the ball. As Cinderella leaves, the Fairy Godmother summons the bluebird and instructs it to serve as Cinderella’s guide.
In the ballet, the bluebird leads the carriage to the castle with a trail of light, symbolizing Cinderella’s goodness triumphing over her cruel treatment by her stepmother and stepsisters. At the ball, the bluebird warns Cinderella when the clock is about to strike midnight and she must leave. The vivid blue costume and graceful winged dance of the bluebird stand out on stage as a magical guiding force for Cinderella’s journey.
Other Ballets
Besides The Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella, the bluebird has cameo roles in several other classic ballets:
- In Petipa’s 1890 ballet The Sleeping Beauty, fairies summon the bluebird to fly over Princess Aurora’s cradle to bless her with happiness.
- In Fokine’s 1910 ballet The Bluebird, the bluebird helps a princess and prince find the Kingdom of Happiness.
- In Maillot’s 1991 contemporary ballet Sleeping Beauty, the bluebird is presented as the prince’s alter ego and spirit animal.
- The bluebird appears in several excerpts from other ballets staged as divertissements, such as The Bluebird Pas de Deux from Petipa’s The Fairy Doll.
Symbolism of the Bluebird
So why is the bluebird such a recurring figure in ballet? Here are some of the key reasons:
- Happiness and prosperity – The vivid blue plumage and songs of bluebirds are associated with joy, health, and thriving.
- Triumph over evil – The bluebird helps heroes and heroines overcome curses, poverty, and wicked characters.
- Guidance – As a guide for protagonists, the bluebird leads them to their “happily ever after” or goals.
- Spiritual aid – The bluebird’s blessings and interventions have a supernatural quality, often serving as a fairy godmother’s helper.
- Lively dance – The fast fluttering and flitting of the bluebird provides visually dynamic sequences on stage.
The bluebird’s positive attributes make it the perfect symbolic creature to bridge fantasy and reality in ballet’s magical fairy tale worlds. The bluebird dances indicate the joy, direction, and hope its presence brings to characters and stories. Over many ballets, this bright blue icon has cemented its place as a beloved emblem of prosperity and happiness.
Significance in Ballet History
As a recurring character spanning from classical to contemporary ballet, the bluebird has artistic significance:
- The bluebird pas de deux in The Sleeping Beauty is considered one of the most challenging pas de deux to perform, requiring technical precision and artistry from the lead dancers.
- The divertissements from ballets like The Fairy Doll allow companies to stage excerpts showcasing the bluebird without mounting full productions.
- The bluebird brought magical realism and fantasy into story ballets by intertwining its fairy tale role with real dancers on stage.
- It became a traditional Christmas character in holiday productions of The Nutcracker and other Tchaikovsky ballets.
- The bluebird motifs opened up opportunities for imaginative new choreography, music, and costuming tailored to the creature.
Though a supporting role, the bluebird has left its mark across ballet history through its recurring appearances and rich symbolism. The bluebird has proven to be a memorable and adaptable figure – a storybook creature come to life through dance.
Conclusion
The bluebird’s most famous ballet appearances are in The Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Its bright plumage and graceful flight signify joy, prosperity, and victory over evil. While a supporting character, the bluebird’s dances add magic and symbolic meaning to many story ballets. Over time, the bluebird has become a hallmark creature of magical realism in ballet. Its fairytale attributes and positive symbolism continue to inspire new interpretations and choreography today.
