How did Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes transform ballet in the early 20th century?

Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, founded in 1909, fundamentally transformed ballet from a declining art form into a respected, major theatrical discipline in the West. Diaghilev achieved this by championing the concept of a "total work of art," where dance, music, and stage design were integrated as equal, essential elements.12

The company’s impact was driven by several key innovations:

• Collaborative Excellence: Diaghilev commissioned works from avant-garde composers like Igor Stravinsky and visual artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Léon Bakst, elevating the aesthetic standards of the stage.312
• Choreographic Evolution: Early choreographers like Michel Fokine revitalized the form, while Vaslav Nijinsky challenged classical conventions with iconoclastic, nonclassical movements in works like The Rite of Spring.12
• Artistic Prestige: By courting the artistic intelligentsia, the company shed the "louche" reputation ballet held in the 19th century, establishing it as a sophisticated, cosmopolitan art form.12
• Neoclassicism: Later, George Balanchine helped usher in the era of neoclassicism, which became a dominant choreographic style for decades to follow.12