Global Ballet, Local Signification: The Contemporary Reception of Excelsior in Vienna and Budapest

Abstract

In the second half of the 19^th century, the intertwining of ballet and melodrama in Italy gave rise to a new cultural discourse. This study focuses on Excelsior, a ballet by Luigi Manzotti that premiered in 1881, which allegorically staged the ideals of technological progress and globalization. It is argued that Excelsior shaped the discourse of dance across both local and global dimensions, with particular emphasis on the representation of national and non-Western identities. Drawing on qualitative analysis, the research examines the press reception of the ballet in Vienna and Budapest, revealing how local socio-political contexts influenced the adaptation and semantic layers of the performance. By engaging with both the narrative and visual features of the ballet, the study contributes to understanding Excelsior as a case of cultural transfer, highlighting how its social and political significance was transformed in distinct regional contexts.