The Struggle of the Magicians Scenario of the Ballet
The Struggle of the Magicians Scenario of the Ballet by G.I. Gurdjieff, published by Book Studio in April 2014, is a 50-page exploration of dance as a medium for expressing deeper laws of movement and existence. This edition presents Gurdjieff’s perspective on ballet, emphasizing its role as a spectacle that conceals profound meanings beneath its surface. The work draws on Gurdjieff’s experiences and observations, particularly from his travels in the East, where he encountered sacred dances performed in ancient temples.
Readers will find that this book delves into the relationship between movement, rhythm, and the cosmos, illustrating how certain dances can evoke fundamental truths. Gurdjieff describes a mechanism that symbolizes the celestial movements of planets, paralleling this with the sacred dances that embody similar laws. The narrative invites reflection on the intersection of art, spirituality, and the human experience, making it relevant to those interested in biography, mysticism, and the cultural significance of ballet.
Official synopsis Publisher
“My ballet is not a mystery,” replied Mr. G.
“The purpose of it is to present an interesting and beautiful spectacle. Of course, under the visible forms a certain sense is hidden, but I did not aim at demonstrating or emphasizing it. The chief position in this ballet is occupied by certain dances. I will explain this to you shortly.
“Imagine that in studying the laws of movement of the celestial bodies, let us say the planets of the solar system, you have constructed a special mechanism for the vivid representation and recording of these laws. Every planet of this mechanism is represented by a ball of corresponding size and is placed at a strictly determined distance from the central ball which stands for the sun. You set the mechanism in motion and all the balls begin to turn and move in definite ways reproducing in a lifelike manner the laws which rule their movements. This mechanism reminds you of your knowledge. Likewise in the rhythm of certain dances, in strictly determined movements and combinations of the dances, certain laws are vividly recalled. Such dances are called sacred.
“During the period of my wanderings in the East, I often saw dances of this kind executed during the performances of sacred services in some of the ancient temples. This spectacle is inaccessible and unknown to Europeans. Some of these dances are reproduced in The Struggle of the Magicians.
“Further than this I may tell you that at the basis of The Struggle of the Magicians lie three thoughts, but as I have no hope that they will he understood by the public if I only give the ballet on the stage I call it simply a spectacle.”
— Gurdjieff’s Early Talks 1914-1931, Reflexes of Truth (p. 27)
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