Russian dance as theatrics: from buffoonery to the beginning of 20th century

In the article the phenomenon of formation of Russian national dance as theatrics isinvestigated. Separate periods of history of this art form evolution from the activity of buffoons till the ensembles of national-scenicdance at the beginning of the 20th century are considered. The functions Russian dance had during different epochs are described andhow they influenced its scenic embodiment, the historical events and personalities that brought special contribution to its developmentas a scenic art. First we will consider the moment when the first semi-professionals, and later professional executors of Russian dance -buffoons appeared. At this period of time it is already possible to speak about Russian dance as about a show, because the aesthetic partof Russian dance starts to prevail over its other functions. Having considered the contribution of buffoons to Russian dance as the art ofentertainment, stage by stage we will pass to Peter's funs and masquerades where Russian dance was a part of pleasure programs forspectators. We will note the moments of appearance of Russian dance at drama and opera scenes, ballet performances where Russiandance is used as a lexical basis or a plug-in divertissement that is a new stage on the way of its transformation to theatrics, approaches toprofessional creativity and unites with other genres of choreography. Further, we will consider its displays at the serf theatre, the firstattempts of creation characteristic exercitations. Thus, we will build a complete picture of transformation of Russian national dance in ascenic genre of choreography. Russian dance is investigated as performing political, aesthetic, social, ideological functions, with thepurpose to show that the change of its functionality influences its embodiment at the scene. The analysis of what Russian national-scenicdance approached by the beginning of the 20th century will be the result of the study, by the time of a new mark of its development −ensembles of national-scenic dance.

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