The Rite Steps: Reconstructing “The Rite of Spring“

“Although the reconstruction process undertaken by Hodson and Archer relies on diverse source material to suggest a restoration of a material phenomenon—how the dancers and audience members in 1913 experienced the ballet—it seems their ultimate goal aligns more with the ideal: reconstructing what Nijinsky would have wanted.“ -Marisa Lily Gaetgaeow, 2018 Can a lost ballet be found again? This was the question that led two archivists and a ballet master on a 17-year quest to revive Vaslav Nijinsky’s LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS, the ballet that inspired the most famous opening night riot of all the performing arts. But what are we really hoping to preserve when we reconstruct a dance? Zach Barr (they/them) explores the inspired, contentious, and often impossible story behind the Joffrey Ballet’s 1987 reconstruction of THE RITE OF SPRING, and the struggle to document an ephemeral work of art. Bibliography: “And Now, They Sing“ playlist: For suggesting topics: ​​ For donations: