Different Ballet Styles: Contrast & Comparison

Ballet is not one fixed style. Depending on where you train, terminology can vary, the same steps can look slightly different, from arm positions to the rhythm of jumps. Understanding these distinctions can deepen your technique and make your practice more versatile.

Here’s a quick comparison of some of the major ballet training systems:

School / Method	Origin	Structure of Syllabus	Key Features	Focus / Aesthetic
Vaganova	USSR, 1930s	8-year professional programme, exercises change weekly	Strong épaulement, arms & legs coordinated	Power + lyricism, expressive back, seamless port de bras
Balanchine	USA, mid-20th c.	Company-focused, no fixed syllabus	Fast, sharp allegro, deep plié, off-balance lines	Musicality, angularity, brilliance, athleticism
RAD	UK, 1920	Graded exam syllabus	Musicality, artistry, safe pedagogy	Accessible, structured training for all ages
ISTD / Cecchetti	UK, 1924	Fixed exam syllabus per grade	Clarity of line, detailed épaulement, coordination	Purity of technique, disciplined progression
Danish / Bournonville	Denmark, 19th c.	Daily classes following historical combinations	Light petit allegro, restrained port de bras	Buoyant, elegant, understated style
Holistic Ballet (Franziska Rosenzweig)	London, 21st c.	Open classes for adults, workshops, private lessons, in person, online	Classical technique adapted for safety, Pilates & functional anatomy integration	Body- and mind-friendly training, clarity, confidence, elegance

How Holistic Ballet fits in

Holistic Ballet builds on the foundations of classical technique while adapting it for adult learners. It integrates modern principles from Pilates, functional anatomy, and mindful awareness to ensure safe, precise, and confident dancing.

This approach allows adult dancers to benefit from classical training

Holistic Ballet Adult Class, Berlin Ballet Retreat

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Timeline of Russian Ballet Training

Russian ballet developed over centuries, influenced heavily by Western European traditions. In the 18th century, French ballet masters brought the courtly style of Versailles to Russia. Later, in the 19th century, Italian teachers arrived, introducing virtuosity, precise footwork, and systematic technique.

One of the most influential was Enrico Cecchetti (1850–1928), an Italian master who taught in St Petersburg, amongst his students Anna Pavlova. Cecchetti codified exercises and a daily class structure, focusing on strength, clean lines, épaulement, and technical progression. His methods laid the foundation for the Cecchetti Society syllabus in the UK and influenced Russian training for decades.

During this period, Russia’s Imperial Ballet became a powerhouse, especially under Marius Petipa, who staged classics like Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. The combination of French elegance, Italian virtuosity, and Russian grandeur shaped the style that later codifiers, like Agrippina Vaganova, formalised into the Vaganova method.

As 'Vaganova' is not identical with 'Russian' Style, and Balanchine had its roots in pre-Revolution Imperalist training, You may find this timeline interesting.

18th–19th century – Imperial Ballet (Tsarist Russia)

• Strongly influenced by French and Italian masters (Didelot, Perrot, Cecchetti).

• Marius Petipa (1818–1910) shapes the classical repertoire (Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Raymonda).

• Training is rigorous but not yet codified into a single unified “method.”

Early 20th century – Transition

• Russian ballet known for grandeur and virtuosity.

• Students at the Imperial Ballet School (later Vaganova Academy) are taught by diverse masters.

• Among them: young George Balanchine (1904–1983), who absorbs this foundation before leaving Russia in 1924.

1930s – Vaganova Method

• Agrippina Vaganova (1879–1951), a graduate of the Imperial Ballet, codifies a systematic training syllabus.

• Publishes Fundamentals of Classical Dance (1934).

• Key traits: strong back, épaulement in every step, seamless coordination of arms and legs.

• Becomes the official Soviet training system.

Mid–20th century – Balanchine in America

• Balanchine founds the School of American Ballet (1934) and New York City Ballet (1948).

• Builds on Russian training but develops a new aesthetic: faster, sharper, often off-balance, emphasising musicality and angularity.

• His style becomes known as “Balanchine technique,” distinct from Vaganova.

Summary:

• Petipa created the classics that still shape ballet technique.

• Vaganova distilled that heritage into a structured training method.

• Balanchine took the same roots but pushed them in a new direction.

Why explore different ballet styles?

- Develop versatility and awareness of technique variations.

- Learn how your body responds to different stylistic interpretations.

- Build confidence and avoid the misconception that one style is ‘superior’.

Why hold off exploring different ballet styles?

- confusing and destabilising for beginner students

- may slow down progress

My Suggestion

Trust and the connection with your teaching is more important than the ballet style you are learning initially. Once you have some experience, you can start exploring and make a more informed decision about which style suits you best.

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.