A Scenographic Vision for the Firebird Ballet between Folk Tale and Theatrical Performance

The Firebird ballet presents a Russian folkloric tale focused on Prince Ivan, who obtains a magical feather from the Firebird after setting it free, and later uses it to confront the sorcerer Koschei, who has imprisoned his beloved Katarina, ultimately discovered the secret of his immortality and defeated him. The research aims to analyse the scenographic vision of the Firebird ballet as a visual medium linking the Russian folk tale with the dance-theatrical work, by examining the role of scenographic elements in embodying the mythological and symbolic meanings of the story and constructing meaning within the performance without relying on spoken dialogue. The research problem concerns how to translate the mythological and symbolic dimensions of the story into a contemporary theatrical image, particularly given the limitations of previous scenographic treatments that often used only a single setting representing Koschei’s palace garden. The study follows a descriptive–analytical applied methodology, combining an analysis of the ballet’s scenographic vision with a practical application consisting of set and costume designs inspired by the folk tale, accompanied by theorizing their aesthetic and symbolic philosophy within a contemporary framework. The study concludes that scenography in the Firebird ballet functions as an effective visual and intellectual medium for producing meaning, through a contemporary approach that preserves the essence of the folk tale while relying on visual elements to convey meaning.