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Period: May 8, 1400 to
The History of Ballet
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May 8, 1459
Ballet Was Born
Ballet HistoryBallet originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century. Noblemen and women were treated to lavish events, especially wedding celebrations, where dancing and music created an elaborate spectacle. Dancing masters taught the steps to the nobility, and the court participated in the performances. -
Ballet de la nuit
Ballet HistoryA passionate dancer, he performed many roles himself, including that of the Sun King in Ballet de la nuit. His love of ballet fostered its elevation from a pasttime for amateurs to an endeavor requiring professional training. -
The first ballet academy
Ballet early historyIn 1661 Louis XIV established the Acad‚mie Royale de Danse, a professional organization for dancing masters. -
Court ballet reached its peak
History of BalletThe court ballet reached its peak during the reign (1643-1715) of Louis XIV, whose title the Sun King was derived from a role he danced in a ballet. Many of the ballets presented at his court were created by the Italian-French composer Jean Baptiste Lully and the French choreographer Pierre Beauchamp, who is said to have defined the five positions of the feet. -
Poite became popular
Ballet HistoryMarie Taglioni made dancing on Pointe popular in the 1830s when she danced a ballet called La Sylphide created for her by her father Filipo Taglioni. -
The romantic era
Ballet HistoryThe Romantic Era of ballet began in 1832 with
the production of La Sylphide. -
Russian Ballet
Ballet HistoryAfter 1850, interest in ballet began to wane in Paris and grow in Denmark and, most notably, Russia, thanks to masters such as August Bournonville, Jules Perrot, Arthur Saint-Léon, Enrico Cecchetti, and Marius Petipa. -
The School of American Ballet was found
History Of Ballet Balanchine saw Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the movies and thought that there must be people who could become great ballet dancers in America. In 1934, he founded the School of American Ballet in New York City along with the dance company that would become the New York City Ballet. Balanchine created many new, interesting ballets and restaged many of the classics. Thanks to Balanchine, The Nutcracker has become a holiday tradition. -
Contemporary Ballet
Ballet HistoryAround 1980s, the world "contemporary dance" referred to the movement of new dancers who did not want to follow strict classical ballet and lyrical dance forms, but instead wanted to explore the area of revolutionary unconventional movements that were gathered from all dance styles of the world. -
Ballet Today
Ballet HistoryToday, ballet is thriving. There are hundreds of companies presenting the classic ballets, as well as neo-classical and contemporary works. Students every where are pulling on leotards and ballet tights to carry on the tradition.
