Unveiling the Art of Discourse : A Genre Analysis of Ballet Reviews

Abstract: This is a genre analysis study in linguistics whose purpose is to identify the structure of a Ballet Review using Swalesian move analysis. Whilst the review genre has been explored in the past (e.g., de Jong, & Burgers, 2018; Nodoushan & Montazeran, 2012; Taboada, 2011) there have been no dedicated studies on Ballet Reviews. To fill this void, the traditional review genre framework has been used as a starting point to investigate whether a similar framework applies to Ballet Reviews. Employing Moth-Roth’s (1996) and Nodoushan’s (2012) adapted frameworks, this study delves into the compositional structure, and rhetorical functions of Ballet Reviews. An in-depth genre analysis is carried out based on 40 Ballet Reviews using move analysis. Additionally, insights from a ballet critic interview enrich the study, providing deeper insights into Ballet Reviews. The research identifies four moves in the reviews, highlighting a consensus among critics on the typical structure. Furthermore, the study reveals the impact of publication venues, emphasising the use of specialist terminology in arts publications compared to mainstream newspapers. Implications of the study include discussions on the classification of Ballet Reviews as a distinct genre and the educational gaps for ballet critics. Overall, this study lays the foundation for understanding Ballet Reviews, contributing to genre theory and paving the way for future research.