本文採取歷史研究途徑（Historical Approach）和君?蕾森（June Layson）之舞蹈研究途徑，針對俄羅斯芭蕾舞起源的相關社會、文化與藝術背景，及各時期重要編舞家與舞蹈家作一系統性的分析與研究。

本文研究架構共分五章，第一章說明研究動機與主題，並對俄羅斯芭蕾相關之歷史文獻進行整理，闡述採行之研究方法與架構。

第二章為俄國芭蕾藝術的傳入期，分四個部分說明俄國芭蕾吸取西方芭蕾養分的奠基過程：一為俄羅斯芭蕾藝術受皇室扶植萌芽的時代背景與專業化發展，二為俄國芭蕾自決的濫觴，三為俄羅斯芭蕾與西歐芭蕾接軌的浪漫芭蕾時期，四為裴堤帕為俄國創造的古典芭蕾時期。

第三章為俄國芭蕾藝術的改革期，指由佳吉列夫領導之「俄羅斯芭蕾舞團」在1909年至1929年間，走出裴堤帕公式化編舞，跨進現代芭蕾領域的芭蕾改革運動。本章著重於舞蹈專業層面，研究使芭蕾藝術獲得重生，讓俄國芭蕾立足西方的主要功臣—五位編舞家—的編導風格及其形成的時期特色。

第四章為蘇聯芭蕾的實驗期，說明1917年10月革命對俄羅斯芭蕾藝術的影響，分析1920年代影響往後數十年之編舞家作品風格，最後並對蘇聯芭蕾的重要資產與瑰寶—芭蕾舞者，以及蘇聯芭蕾教學體系的建立者瓦加諾娃，作一整理與介紹。

第五章為本論文的結論，將對本文的研究結果作綜合性的回顧與檢討，並做總結。

The thesis of “The Origin and development of Russian Ballet” focuses on “Historical Approach” and adopts June Layson’s “ Dance Study Approach”, aims at analyzing the social, cultural and artistic content of the Russian Ballet’s origin, as well as the style of important choreographers, dancers and educators of each time.

The research consists of five chapters. The first chapter summarizes the theme and the motif of the research. Historical document and archives are organized and presented as to explain the method and structure of the thesis.

The second chapter, the nourishment of the Western ballet on the forming stage of Russian ballet, discusses four important elements that were introduced from the Western world. First, the sprout and professionalization of Russian ballet supported and sponsored by Russian Royal family. Second, the beginning of self-determination of Russian ballet. Third, the Russian romantic ballet period, and the last, “the classic ballet” created by Marius Petipa that surpassed the Western style.

The third chapter examines the reform period of Russian ballet led by the dance group “Ballet Russes”. The group was founded by Serge Diaghilev during 1909-1929 that broke away from the Petipa’s formulism and stepped into the modern ballet movement. The innovative style of “Ballet Russes” not only revitalized the ballet world but also gave Russian ballet a foothold in the hometown of ballet. This chapter further explored the development of the group and its three important periods with different style. Also, the style of five choreographers who were the inspiration of the group is introduced.

The forth chapter, the experimental period of Russian ballet, outlined the influence of 1917 Russian October Revolution that brought into the Russian ballet. The experimental works of the 1920’s important choreographers that greatly influenced the later Soviet ballet even more than 30 years are also analyzed. Furthermore, this chapter introduces the most important treasure—Soviet ballet dancers and the founder of Soviet ballet teaching system—Agrippina Vaganova.

The fifth chapter concludes the thesis, and takes an overall review of the research.

中文書籍
大衛?麥肯尼斯，邁可?科倫合著（David Mackenzie & Michael W. Curran），《俄羅斯?蘇聯?與其後的歷史》，台北：國立編譯館，民國84年。
巴蘭欽和梅森著（George Balanchine & Francis Mason），《外國著名芭蕾舞劇故事》，北京：中國戲劇出版社，民國81年。
尼金斯基著，陳瑞獻、郝小菲合譯，《尼金斯基日記》，台北：水牛出版社，民國73年。
布羅凱特，《世界戲劇藝術欣賞》，台北：志文，民國80年。
卡蜜拉?葛瑞，曾長生譯，《俄國的藝術實驗》，台北：遠流，民國84年。
伍曼麗主編，《舞蹈欣賞》，台北：五南，民國87。
奚靜之，《俄羅斯蘇聯美術史》，台北：藝術家，民國79年。
林懷民，《擦身而過》，台北： 遠流，民國81年。
黃麒、葉蓉合著，《現代芭蕾》，台北：大呂，民國83年。
歐建平，《舞蹈名人錄》，台北：洪葉，民國86年。
蘆原英了著，李哲洋譯，《舞劇與古典舞蹈》，台北：全音樂譜，民國74年。
《中國大百科全書—音樂舞蹈》，台北：錦繡出版事業股份有限公司，民國82年。
英文書籍
Anderson, Jack. Ballet & Modern Dance: A Concise History, NJ: Princeton , 1992.
Au, Susan. Ballet & Modern Dance, London: Thames and Hudson, 1988.
Clarke, Mary. & Crisp, Clement. Ballet: An Illustrated History, NY: Universe, 1978.
－How to Enjoy Ballet, Taipei: Bookman, 1991.
Fokine, Michel. “Letter to The Times, July 6th, 1914: The Five Principles,” in Cyril W. Beaumont, Michel Fokine and His Ballets. London: C.W. Beaumont, 1945.
Frank, A. H. Approach to the Ballet, London: Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons LTD, 1952.
Garafola, Lynn. Diaghilev’s Ballet Russes, NY: Oxford University Press, 1989.
Great Soviet Encyclopedia, London: Collier Macmillan Publishers, 1973, vol. 14.
Guest, Ivor. The Dancer’s Heritage: A Short History of Ballet, London: Adam and Charles Black,1960.
Gusev, Peter. ''Choreographic Education in the USSR'', The Soviet Ballet, New York: Da Capo Press, 1970.
Hall, Fernau. An Anatomy of Ballet, London: Andrew Melrose, 1954.
Haskell, Arnold. Diaghileff: His Artistic and Private Life, London: Gollancz, 1935.
Hastings, Baird. Choreographer and Composer, Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1983.
Iving, Victor . “Catherine Geltser”, The Soviet Ballet, New York: Da Capo Press, 1970.
Karsavina, Tamara. Theatre Street: The Reminiscences of Tamara Karsavina, London: Heinemann, 1930.
Koegler, Horst. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Ballet, New York: Oxford University Press, 1982.
Kopelson, Kevin. The Queer Afterlife of Vaslav Nijinsky, California: Stanford University Press, 1997.
Layson, June. “Historical Perspectives in the Study of Dance”, Dance History: An Introduction, London and New York: Routledge, 1994.
Mamontov, George . “Soviet Choreographers”, The Soviet Ballet , New York: Da Capo Press, 1970.
Martin, John. John Martin’s Book of The Dance, NY: Tudor Publishing Company, 1963.
Massine, L’eonide. My Life in Ballet, ed. Phyllis Hartnoll and Robert Rubens. London: Macmillan, 1968.
Money, Keith. Anna Pavlova:Her Life and Art , New York: Knopf, 1982.
Nijinska, Bronislava. Early Memoirs, Durham and London: Duke University Press, 1992.
Nijinsky, Vaslav. The Diary of Vaslav Nijinsky, Ed. Romola Nijinsky, Berkeley: University of California Press, 1968.
Perugini, M. E. The Art of Ballet, London: Martin Secker, 1915.
Rambert, Marie. Quicksilver, London: Macmillan, 1972.
Reyna, Ferdinando. A Concise History of Ballet, New York: Crosset & Dunlap, 1965.
Roslavleva, Natalia. Era of the Russian Ballet, New York: Da Capo Press, 1979.
Schouvaloff, Alexander. The Art of Ballet Russes, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1997.
Slonimsky, Juri. ''The Soviet Ballet'', The Soviet Ballet. New York: Da Capo Press, 1970.
Souritz, Elizabeth. Soviet Choreographers in the 1920s, Durham and London: Duke University Press, 1990.
Swift, M. G. The Art of The Dance in the U.S.S.R., Indiana: University of Norte Dame Press, 1968.
Taper, B. Balanchine, NY: Macmillan, 1960.
Twysden, A. Alexandra Danilova , London: C. W. Beaumont, 1945.
Volkov, Nikolai . “Marina Semenova”, The Soviet Ballet, New York: Da Capo Press, 1970.
—“Agrippina Vaganova,” The Soviet Ballet, New York: Da Capo Press, 1970.
Woodward, Ian. Ballet, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1979.
英文期刊
Tikhmeneva, Galina. “Didelot’s work in Russia”, Sovietsky Balet, issue No. 4, 1987. (http:www.aha.ru/~vladmo/d-txt1.html.)
Vsevolodskaya, Olga. "The Merry Tsarina and Russian Dance", Sovietsky Balet, issue No. 2, 1991. (http:www.aha.ru/~vladmo/d-txt1.html.)
Zozulina, Natalia. Sovietsky Ballet, issue No. 1, 1988. (http://www.aha.ru/~vladmo/d-txt15.html)