Thanatological Images and Motifs in Ballet Art

The article is devoted to the analysis of death signs that have become widespread in Russian and Western European ballet art, where various death signs are embodied in the artistic images of characters. The article shows the cultural and historical dynamics of ballet art, influencing the interpretation of death signs. The article analyzes the attitude to the topic of death in Russian society of the 19th century, in Soviet society and in modern Russian society based on the works of such outstanding choreographers as A.P. Glushkovsky, J. Balanchine, K.Ya. Goleizovsky. The representation of images of death-punishment and death-deliverance is shown on stage examples of choreographic art. The transformation of the ancient image of Thanatos, the god of death, into an aesthetic image of human death is emphasized. The author focuses on the history of thanatology in Russia. The prospects for the development of ballet thanatology as a new genre are considered.