When the great Russian impresario, Serge Diaghilev, mounted his first season of Russian Ballet in Europe in 1909, it took Paris by Storm. Over a 20-year period, the Russian Ballet became one of the foremost influences on the development of ballet in the 20th Century across the world. Innovative Russian designers such as Alexander Benois and Leon Bakst brought colour to the stage that had never been seen in the theatre before. Later, European artists such as Pablo Picasso and Coco Chanel went further, creating even more sensational costume designs that spilled over, beyond the footlights, into a world of high fashion.
Course aim
To showcase the dancers and artists of Diaghilev's Russian Ballet who took Paris by storm in 1909 with their innovative costume designs which went beyond the footlights into the world of style and fashion.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- You will need your own personal email address so that you’re able to login to the WEA’s digital learning platform: WEA Canvas. You will need to be able to understand how to follow URL links to pages on the internet. If you want to understand more about Canvas please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- You will need to be able to follow links to join our WEA live video learning platform: WEA Zoom. If you’d like to understand more about our video learning platform, Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline and http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- This is a live lecture delivered by a subject specialist in an online webinar video learning platform. You will need to be able to access the internet on a device with speakers or earphones. There will be opportunities to take part in discussions and chats. If you’d like to know how to use Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- No skills or experience needed
- This course is suitable for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Appreciate the influence of Diaghilev's Russian Ballet on costume design.
- Assess the contribution made by Russian artists who brought a new style of art to the stage which spilled over into the world of fashion.
- Assess the contribution made by European artists whose innovative theatre designs extended beyond the footlights.
How will I be taught?
- The WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas will be used to provide resources or to support lessons, enable assessment, provide learner feedback and for other activities for individuals away from the course. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- A range of informal activities will be used by the tutor to see what you are learning which may include quizzes, question and answer, small projects and discussion
- You will have access to a range of film and video material in Canvas to support your appreciation of the subject.
What else do I need to know?
- What you need: You will need an internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a webcam so that you can use our video learning platform, Zoom. If you’d like to understand more Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- You will need a personal email address to join the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas so that you can receive resources, record your progress and achievement and to work with others and share ideas. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- You will have access to course resources and links to wider learning through the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- No pre reading or pre course work is required
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
- Access the WEA What Next? booklet here http://www.wea.org.uk/learn-wea/what-can-i-do-next
Download full course information sheet
Diaghilev's Russian Ballet : its influence on design and fashion







