Ballet is a style of dance that involves graceful and precise movements to express emotion and even tell stories. Taking ballet classes can promote a child's physical strength and flexibility while improving focus and providing a valuable creative outlet. Prior to enrolling your child in lessons, you might want to know more about the history of this dance form, so consult the guide below to learn about its beginnings and transformation. 

Origins of Ballet

Ballet made its debut in Italian and French courts during the Renaissance period of the 15th century. While attending events at palaces and grand estates, nobles enjoyed music and danced with the help of instructors, who taught them how to execute poses and movements. In these early ballet routines, the nobles performed routines that reenacted mythological tales, and some participants even wore masks and costumes to portray the characters of heroes and gods. 

King Louis XIV of France popularized ballet when he hosted performances at Versailles. The king's private ballet instructor, Pierre Beauchamp, choreographed routines performed in the royal court. He also created the first system of poses and movements that ballet instructors would later use as a basis for instruction. During the same period, Louis XIV founded the Academie d'Opera, where people began practicing this dance style professionally for the first time.

Evolution

Ballet evolved significantly during the Romanticism movement of the early 19th century. The first classical ballets, including La Sylphide and Giselle, were choreographed and performed during this period. They featured themes of magic and the supernatural world, which became commonplace in routines. Pointe work, characterized by dancing on the tips of the toes, and tutus, or skirts made from tulle and worn by dancers, also emerged in the Romantic period. 

In the late 1800s, Russian composers and choreographers elevated ballet by putting together more technical routines. Marius Petipa’s The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, for instance, showcased dancers using pointe work and executing high leg extensions, which started a trend of more complex choreography.

Modern Variations

During the 20th century, ballet became more experimental as choreographers reinvented movements. One of the most famous ballets of this period was The Rite of Spring, created in collaboration by Russian choreographer Sergei Diaghilev and composer Igor Stravinsky. This ballet was revolutionary due to its use of nontraditional steps and discordant music. In the U.S., George Balanchine, who founded the New York City Ballet, founded neo-classical ballet, which focused on using movement to express emotion rather than tell a straightforward story. In ballet classes today, teachers often incorporate elements of traditional and modern ballet, introducing students to a well-rounded range of poses and movements.

Help your children reap the benefits of ballet by enrolling them in Heidi Knight School of Dance. This dance studio offers ballet classes to kids throughout the Huntsville and Madison, AL, areas. Call (256) 430-4315 to sign up your young ones for programs at this dance school, and visit the website to learn more about their classes by age group.