Exhibition "Dancing, Showing, Pretending…" – 100 Years of Lithuanian Ballet"

The title of the exhibition is a phrase describing ballet from the "Glossary of Foreign and Incomprehensible Words" prepared by Jurgis Šlapelis and published in 1907. Over more than a century, this art form has become familiar and understandable in Lithuania.

Although the continuous history of Lithuanian ballet began on December 4, 1925, with the premiere of Léo Delibes' ballet "Coppélia" at the State Theatre in Kaunas, the art of ballet has been known in Lithuania since much earlier times. Thus, the exhibition is a journey through the history of Lithuanian ballet, starting with opera productions in the 17th century at the Lower Castle of Vilnius, continuing through the 18th-century manor and school theatres, and the 19th-century stage of the Vilnius City Theatre. The dance art forms of this period are presented in the introductory exhibition hall through displayed documents, artworks, and their copies.

Much attention in the exhibition is devoted to the first professional ballet performance – "Coppélia", staged by choreographer Pavelas Petrovas, as well as subsequent productions of this ballet created by Nikolajus Zverevas, Vytautas Brazdylis, and Kirill Simonov, revealing the change and evolution of this ballet's artistic forms.

The century-long history of Lithuanian ballet in the exhibition is primarily reflected through works created in Lithuania, which delighted ballet art lovers for shorter or longer periods at the State Theatre in Kaunas, and after the ballet troupe moved to Vilnius – at the Lithuanian State Academic (now National) Opera and Ballet Theatre. The latter operated in the old theatre building on Jono Basanavičiaus Street and has been creating in the current palace on Antano Vienuolio Street since 1974. Ballet performances and their creators from the Kaunas and Klaipėda State Musical Theatres are also presented.

The creative lives of ballet soloists and artists are commemorated by the costumes they wore in performances and concerts, posters from international tours, and artworks that captured the artists, which are rarely seen in exhibition halls – including a large-format portrait of Genovaitė Sabaliauskaitė created by Irena Trečiokaitė-Žebenkienė, witty caricatures by Romualdas Džiugas, and graphic works by Vida Insodienė.

Among the most frequently staged Lithuanian ballets is Eduardas Balsys' "Eglė the Queen of Serpents", to which one exhibition hall is dedicated, focusing on its stage and screen productions. There, one can explore not only photographs, posters, and set and costume sketches but also video recordings of performances created by Vytautas Grivickas, Egidijus Domeika, and Martynas Rimeikis.