You know I actually thought of uploading a video of myself rapping to this to impress you foxy internet folk but I thought better.

A couple of things:
1) there is a new criminal minds- wtf?!!
2) i understood this, is that sad?
3) my laptop is broken waaaah.

Imagine what the world and, more importantly, beloved television programmes would be like without the trusty butler. Seriously, I tried and shuddered a little.

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Léon Bakst's Narcisse (1911) on Ballets Russes official program


Michel Fokine and Tamara Karsavina in Stravinsky's The Firebird, ca. 1910




Cast of Polovtsian Dances in act 2 of Prince Igor, with choreography by Michel Fokine, 1923.

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Ballets Russes was a travelling Russian ballet comapany which operated between 1909 and 1929 under the direction of Sergei Diaghilev. It is regarded as one of the greatest dance companies of the 20th century/eva and has greatly influenced every facet of art. Ballets Russes was a primal yell during the Belle Epoque and an amalgamation of the 1910s artistic creme de la creme, featuring the likes of Stravinsky, Pavlova and Être- just to name a few. Choreographers, dancers, composers and costume designers alike collaborated on a piece together instead of remaining separate entities, lending to the lush and distinct aesthetic of productions. The performances staged by this company shunned orthodoxy as the choreography was expressive and unrestricted by the technicality of classical ballet.  Quite like a Lady Gaga or Yeah Yeah Yeahs concert, I'd imagine the full-blown, avant-garde theatrics of Ballets Russes to evoke every emotion available on the emotional spectrum; from awe to disgust, to joy and sadness. In fact, during one ballet, Le Sacre du Printemps, the audience was clearly overwhelmed with feeling as they rioted over Stravinsky's maaad beatz and the 'MA15+' content (spoiler: there was a knee or two showing and a live sacrifice gasp!).