Antipkina E. N., Kondratenko Yu. A., Svyatogorova V. S. Formation of the Stage Traditions of Mordovian National Ballet through the Work of Composer N. Kosheleva

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Original article
doi: 10.15507/2076-2577.016.2024.03.348-360

Formation of the Stage Traditions of Mordovian National Ballet through the Work of Composer N. Kosheleva

Elena N. Antipkina
Yuri A. Kondratenko
Varvara S. Svyatogorova
National Research Mordovia State University, Saransk, Russia

Introduction. This article explores the history of the formation of the stage traditions of the national ballet of Mordovia, which can resist contemporary processes of globalization and unification that lead to the erosion of ethnic culture. The stage history of the ballet reflects the priorities of Russia’s national policy, which aims to strengthen the unity of the multinational people while preserving its ethnocultural diversity. The aim of the research is to identify the features of the staging of national ballets on the theatrical stage of Mordovia, using the work of composer N. V. Kosheleva as an example. Currently, her ballet music remains the only material available for creating ballet performances in the republic’s musical theater. However, her works have not been the subject of a comprehensive study within the context of the history of Mordovian theatrical art.

Materials and Methods. The empirical material included national ballets created by composer N. V. Kosheleva, as well as performances from the repertoire of the I. M. Yaushev State Musical Theater and the Mordovian Republican Children’s Choreographic School. The theoretical basis consisted of the works of scholars in the field of musical theater and professional musical and choreographic art of Mordovia. The research methodology is determined by the specificity of the material being analyzed. It is based on a historical-theoretical approach, methods of comparative analysis, and art-historical interpretation of artistic works, which justifies the use of musicological and balletological approaches to material analysis.

Research results and Discussion. The national ballet theater relies on the rich choreographic tradition of the people, which, when combined with the tradition of classical ballet, allowed the creation of a unique plastic language. The study found that in the process of composing ballet music based on a national plot, composer N. V. Kosheleva does not simply quote the tunes and melodies of the folk songs and dances of the Mordovians, but also adds her individual creative component.

Conclusion. The research results indicate that the national ballet of Mordovia represents a synthesis of ethnic dance traditions and classical ballet. It was formed in close interaction with domestic ballet and composer schools. This is confirmed by the ballet work of composer N. V. Kosheleva. The results of this study can be used for further research into the history of Mordovian ballet art in particular and the history of Mordovian art in general.

Keywords: national ballet, works of composer Nina Kosheleva, Alena Arzamasskaya, Mordovian legend, ballet music

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For citation: Antipkina E.N., Kondratenko Yu.A., Svyatogorova V.S. Formation of the Stage Traditions of Mordovian National Ballet through the Work of Composer N. Kosheleva. Finno-Ugric World. 2024;16(3):348–360. https://doi.org/10.15507/2076-2577.016.2024.03.348-360