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Mainly focusing on Russian ballet in particular, although there are some more general sources. I've not read through all of them, although I've at least glanced at them. Many are in Russian. Some have photos that are probably public domain. Citations are given in MLA format.
Unfortunately, a large percentage of dance sources are memoirs or other primary sources. Only a few histories have been written directly on the topic.
A useful bibliography of general dance sources can be found at [1].
Since these were mostly published before 1917, they are written in pre-reform Russian. See also [4] for a table.
Ezhegodnik Imperatorskikh Teatrov. S.-Peterburg: Tip. Imp. S.-Peterburgskikh teatrov, [5] Also see [6].
Collection of the Imperial theatre seasons from 1890-1918. They include performance listings, some casting, and lists of employes. Supplemental articles are also included. Lots of pictures, public domain in both Russia and the USA.
Mikhaĭlovskiĭ, V. A. Khronika Imperatorskikh Moskovskikh Teatrov: Sezony 1806-1891 Gg. S.-Peterburg: Izd. direkt︠s︡īi Imperatorskikh teatrov, 1914-1915. [7]
Brief chronology of each Moscow theatre season from 1806-1891.
Memoirs of Marius Petipa. Unfortunately the English translation is not out of copyright.
Plescheev, Aleksandr Alekseevich, 1858-. Nash Balet; 1673-1899: Balet V Rossiĭ Do Nachala XIX Stolʹtii͡a I Balet Vʹ S.-Peterburgʹ Do 1899 Goda. S.-Peterburgʹ: Izd. O.A. Petei͡aslavtseva i A.A. Plemeeva, 1899. [9]
A comprehensive history of Russian ballet till the 1900's. Highly recommended.
Pogozhev, V. P. Stoli︠e︡tīe Organizat︠s︡īi Imperatorskikh Moskovskikh Teatrov: Opyt Istoricheskago Obzora. S.-Peterburg: Izd. Direkt︠s︡īi Imp. teatrov, 1906. [10]
History of Russian Theatre, some dance included.
Stolpi︠a︡nskiĭ, P. N. b. 1872. Li︠e︡topisʹ Peterburgskikh Imperatorskikh Teatrov: Sezony 1881/82-1890/91. S.-Peterburg: Izd. Direkt︠s︡īi Imperatorskikh teatrov, 1912-1913. [11]
Another season listing, Petersburg theatre from 1881-1891.
Taneev, S. V. Iz Proshlago Imperatorskikh Teatrov. S.-Peterburg: Tip. V. V. Komarova, 1885. [12]
Fairfax, Edmund. The Styles of Eighteenth-Century Ballet. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2003.
General history of a rarely covered early period of ballet.
Homans, Jennifer. Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet. New York: Random House, 2010.
I don't agree with all her statements. Most notably, her statement that Peter the Great brought ballet to Russia (he didn't bring theatrical dance to Russia, that was under his predesecor Alexei, and he didn't open a ballet company or school, that was under his successor Anna), although there are other issues I have as well. I've only glanced at the Russian section, but it appears that she does not speak Russian, so her Russian sections are based entirely on translated sources. Would not reccomend that part, although her other sections might be better researched.
Pawlick, Catherine E. Vaganova Today: The Preservation of Pedagogical Tradition. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2011.
Well researched biography of Agrippina Vaganova, her dancing and teaching, and the current state of the Vaganova Academy. Interesting and recommended.
Plisetskaya, . I, Maya Plisetskaya. S.l.: Yale Univ Press, 2010.
Memoirs of the famous Soviet ballerina Maya Plisetskaya. Provides an interesting backstage look at the Soviet ballet world.
Scholl, Tim. From Petipa to Balanchine: Classical Revival and the Modernization of Ballet. London: Routledge, 1994.
Looks at Petipa, Diaghilev, and Balanchine, tries to link Balanchine not to Diaghilev but to Petipa. Includes technical details as well as a general history.
Volynskiĭ, A L, and Stanley J. Rabinowitz. Ballet's Magic Kingdom: Selected Writings on Dance in Russia, 1911-1925. New Haven [Conn.: Yale Univ. Press, 2008.
Translation of several reviews, early 1900's Russia.
