 |
| Connie L. Braun |
By its very nature, ballet is a disciplined art form governed by strict rules and traditions. This inherent structure can serve as a powerful metaphor for legal systems. Some of the key intersections between legal themes and ballet include:
- Rules and order: The rigid choreography echoes the enforcement of societal and legal norms.
- Contracts and obligations: Many ballets involve characters bound by vows, curses or fate, akin to legal contracts that dictate the parameters of behaviour and consequences.
- Justice and retribution: Frequently, the narrative involves acts of betrayal or transgression, followed by moments of moral reckoning or supernatural retribution.
- Social hierarchies: Class distinctions and the power dynamics between different social orders reflect legal stratifications, offering commentary on societal justice and the impact of law on everyday life.
Giselle: Deception and the unforgiving law of retribution
Among the most iconic ballets, Giselle provides fertile ground for a discussion of legal themes. Giselle tells the tragic story of a peasant girl who falls in love with a disguised nobleman. Upon discovering his deception, her fragile world shatters, leading her to die of heartbreak. In the afterlife, she transforms into a Wili, a vengeful spirit who joins a spectral collective of betrayed women tasked with exacting retribution on men who betray their honour. Giselle’s profound betrayal mirrors the concept of a broken legal or moral contract. Her love is founded on trust, a social agreement whose violation brings about severe consequences.
As a Wili, Giselle and other betrayed women serve as embodiments of an extrajudicial force, enforcing a kind of supernatural justice. Their relentless pursuit of wrongdoers raises questions about the limits of legal authority and the nature of punishment. Further, the divide between the peasantry and the aristocracy underscores the impact of social hierarchy on justice. Subtle yet telling shifts in movement mirror how legal systems often function differently across class boundaries.
Sleeping Beauty: Curses, contracts and the order of kingdoms
Inspired by fairy tales, Sleeping Beauty tells the story of a princess cursed by an offended fairy. The curse decrees that she will prick her finger and fall into a deep sleep, only to be awakened by true love’s kiss. The curse can be seen as a kind of binding contract — a decree issued by a wronged party that carries a penalty if broken. Eventual reversal hinges on fulfilling a specific condition, much like a legal clause.
The setting is a kingdom where laws, traditions and the honour of the crown prevail, with the narrative reflecting how the adherence to established legal and social orders determines the fate of its characters. While the princess’s fate is controlled by forces beyond her own will, we can deduce themes in legal theory concerning predetermined contracts versus individual rights and freedoms.
Romeo and Juliet: Feuding houses and the law of the land
Originally a Shakespearean tragedy, various ballet adaptations of Romeo and Juliet have brought legal and societal conflicts to the forefront. The conflict between the Montagues and Capulets can be viewed as a failure of legal or social systems to resolve disputes peacefully. Forbidden romance becomes a symbol of individual desire clashing with collective, possibly legally enforced, family honour.
The tragedy serves as a critique of how unchecked family or societal codes can lead to a breakdown in natural law, resulting in consequences that echo the failures of formal legal institutions. Pantomime is integral to underscoring how familial and social laws govern behaviour, sometimes with as much rigidity as those enforced by a legal system.
Choreography as a reflection of legal discipline
Beyond narrative themes, the very structure of ballet itself reflects legal precision:
- Discipline and structure: The strict protocols of ballet technique mirror the rigid frameworks found within legal codes. Each movement and phrase are deliberate, underscoring how adherence to established norms can be both artistically and legally binding.
- Interpretation and enforcement: Just as laws are interpreted by judges and juries, the subtle nuances in choreography invite audiences to interpret moral and legal dimensions within the story. This invites a dynamic dialogue between tradition and modern reinterpretation.
Through it all, pantomime is used to convey themes of justice, betrayal and moral inquiry, functioning as an essential element in exploring legal themes within ballets. As dancers express complex ideas through pantomime, audiences are invited to witness a non-verbal dialogue that mirrors nuanced interpretations and enforcement of legal principles. Through pantomime, ballet transcends spoken word, offering a rich, multifaceted exploration of the human condition and the societal structures that govern it.
Examining ballet through the lens of legal theory, we unlock a deeper appreciation for the intricate layers of meaning woven into these timeless narratives. From the retributive justice of Giselle to the binding curses of Sleeping Beauty and the familial feuds in Romeo and Juliet, these works illustrate how stories of law, order and discipline are interwoven with the art of dance. These works stand as powerful testaments to art’s dual capacity to reflect and interrogate the societal laws that structure our lives. By continually challenging us to rethink the boundaries between justice, order and human emotion, we can easily see ballet as a reflection of the societal structures that govern our lives.
Connie L. Braun is a product adoption and learning consultant with LexisNexis Canada.
The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author’s firm, its clients, Law360 Canada, LexisNexis Canada or any of its or their respective affiliates. This article is for general information purposes and is neither intended to be nor should be taken as legal advice.
Interested in writing for us? To learn more about how you can add your voice to Law360 Canada, contact Analysis Editor Peter Carter at peter.carter@lexisnexis.ca or call 647-776-6740.