What Stravinsky ballet featured in a 2004 documentary caused a near-riot when it was first performed in 1913?
The Rite of Spring The Rite of Spring (French: Le Sacre du printemps ; Весна священная, "Vesna svyashchennaya", "sacred spring" ) is a ballet and orchestral concert work by the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. It was written for the 1913 Paris season of Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes company; the original choreography was by Vaslav Nijinsky, with stage designs and costumes by Nicholas Roerich. When first performed, at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées on 29 May 1913, the avant-garde nature of the music and choreography caused a sensation and a near-riot in the audience. Although designed as a work for the stage, with specific passages accompanying characters and action, the music achieved equal if not greater recognition as a concert piece, and is widely considered to be one of the most influential musical works of the 20th century.
Vaslav Nijinsky Vaslav Nijinsky (also Vatslav; Russian: Ва́цлав Фоми́ч Нижи́нский ; ] ; Polish: "Wacław Niżyński" ; 12 March 1889/18908 April 1950) was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer of Polish descent, cited as the greatest male dancer of the early 20th century. He was celebrated for his virtuosity and for the depth and intensity of his characterizations. He could dance "en pointe", a rare skill among male dancers at the time and was admired for his seemingly gravity-defying leaps.