Vaslav Nijinsky: A Step into Modernism

Vatslav Nizhinsky was a key figure in modernizing dance. He began his career during the 1905 period of the Russian Revolution, when artists from the Imperial Theatres stood up against established order. Under the guidance of Mikhail Fokin, Nizhinsky joined the rebellion and became the chief choreographer of the Russian Seasons under Sergey Diaghilev.

His ballets moved away from the traditional classical style and introduced a new dance language inspired by Lacanian psychoanalysis. Nizhinsky’s role in the performances—especially in “The Rite of Spring”—was revolutionary and led to the birth of a new direction in choreography.