O warstwie treściowej spektakli baletowych – wokół problemu recepcji i transformacji kulturowych tematów libretta [On the literary canon of the ballet scene: the issue of reception, interaction and cultural transformations of the libretto]

The connection between dance and the written word (literature) in classical ballet performances seems particularly close. The starting point for the production of such events could be a literary idea. This is because it is the written libretto which constitutes the dramatic foundation of ballet. The development of the art of ballet saw the emergence of a dominating tendency to shorten and simplify action, so that it captures the attention of the viewer and keeps tension up until the end, thus maintaining a continual interest in the meaning of the dance. Over time, the libretto itself would turn out to be a certain form of inspiration for free choreographic interpretations. The complexity and evolution of ballet themes become apparent in the context of cultural shifts, social attitudes and the aesthetics of a given era. In theatre criticism, it is notable that the status of libretto is inadequately specified, as its reviews seem to be based on ambiguous criteria. This is why, from a scholarly perspective, it is interesting to explore loose adaptations and distant reminiscences of these topics. Such an exploration provokes questions relating to possible ‘fortunate errors’, and the effects thereof, in the context of interpretation.