Many people take ballet dance classes but don't know a lot about the art form's origin. It derives from the Latin word ballare, which means “to dance.” If you'd like to learn more about its history, review this brief guide to discover how the dance style has transformed throughout the generations.

Origins

Starting from the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, dancing often occurred at lavish events such as weddings. Masters taught dance lessons, and performances were held in courts.  

During the 16th century, Catherine de Medici, the wife of King Henry II of France, started to fund ballet. She was very involved in the arts, and her festivals popularized ballet court performances. These shows incorporated costumes, music, decor, and poetry. 

King Louis XIV further spread ballet because he starred in performances. In the 1660s, the first dance academy opened in Paris and taught dance classes. Ballet performances then shifted from the courts to stages. The French opera started incorporating ballet elements and began the tradition of opera ballet.  

In the 1700s, French ballet master Jean Georges Noverre wanted ballet to be its own art form. He rebelled against opera ballet by creating ballet d’action; this form is more dramatic and tells a narrative. He successfully changed the course of ballet for the 19th century. 

19th Century Ballet

Classical ballet began developing in the Romantic Movement, which took place in the first half of the 19th century.  Pointe work — which involves dancing on the tips of toes — started, and so did tutus and skirts made of tulle.

In Russia, dance classes evolved classical ballet by focusing on techniques such as high extensions, turnouts, and precision of movement. Russians choreographed more sequences and wore stiffer tutus. They also shortened the skirts to show how complex the dance moves were. 

Modern Dance

The 20th century significantly progressed beyond traditional ballet. Neoclassical ballet, founded by George Balanchine, focuses on expressing music and emotion rather than a narrative. The style is more abstract. 

There are also more technical forms. Italian ballet focuses on human anatomy and synchronizes all body parts to move as one, while the Russian variant combines different techniques with romantic ballet. More diverse styles are constantly developing and spreading. 

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