history of ballet

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History of Ballet
Introduction
Ballet refers to a form of art that is expressed through graceful dance movement of the human body with solemn music playing in the background. It is widely accepted all over the world as one of the most entertaining forms of artistic dance and cherished by people of all ages and from all social classes (Wilcox n.p.). It is usually performed in a theatrical set up. Costumes, lighting and scenic designs characterize the performance. Depending on the type of ballet dance, ballet can express thoughts, concept, emotions or tell a story. Ballet also arouses various perceptions from the audience members; it can either be perceived as exciting, magical, disturbing or provoking.
Origin of Ballet
The word ballet is derived from the Italian word “Balletto” which means to jump about or dance. It dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries when it started out as a form of entertainment for the aristocrats. From Italy, it spread to France and later transformed into a concert dance in Russia and France. King Louis XIV established the first ballet professional company, that is, Académie Royale de Musique (Dance Facts n.p.). In those early days, the dress code of the ballerinas consisted of jewelry that weighed them down, headdresses, masks, and costumes made of many layers of silk sewed together. As a result of all these clothing items the dancers had to wear at the time, their movements were not as graceful as they are today. The shoes of the dancers in those days had little heels which made them look like they were for a formal event.

Evolution of Ballet
One of the primary development in ballet took place in the 1700’s; this period is referred to as the classical era. It is during this period that dancers started utilizing their facial expressions and additional body movements. It was also at this time that Russia’s St. Petersburg and Moscow began to become important hubs of world ballet. The “en pointe” era or “on toes” was introduced in the nineteenth century; the period molded ballet dancing style to what it is today. The mid-nineteenth century experienced another significant change where the audiences were introduced to elegant and refined productions. Females began dominating lead roles due to their increasing ability to stay on their toes (Prod n.p.). The early educational institutions that focused on ballet in Russia were forced to close when the Soviet revolution took place at the start of the twentieth century. However, during the end of the nineteenth century, Russia had risen to become the leader in the artistic ballet. In the early 1900’s, Diaghilev, one of the influential choreographers from Russia relocated to Paris and shared his creative ideas that changed the dance and the modern era in ballet began.
Ballet in America
Classical ballet was introduced in America in the early twentieth century. The New York City Ballet and the American Ballet theater were the leading companies involved in the dance at the time. The companies were created forty years after the introduction of ballet in the United States. During this time, that is in the 1940’s, George Balanchine from New York helped the city to become the world’s dance capital (Prod n.p.). Currently, almost every state in America has a ballet center; this elegant form of expression through dance continues to gain a strong fan base ever since its inception and is expected to keep doing so in the future.

Works Cited
Dance Facts. “Origin and History of Ballet.” Dance Facts (2016): N.p., Web. 20 Sept. 2018.
Prod, Cennarium. “The Distinct Periods of Ballet History.” (2016): N.p.. Web. 20 Sept. 2018.
Wilcox, E. “What is Ballet Dance?” Pure Energy (2016): N.p., Web. 20 Sept. 2018.