| Ballet is a demanding art. Ballet dancers are trained to | | | | such as Shakespeare and others were just about the |
| move their bodies in unnatural ways and if they are | | | | beauty of the music and the dancing itself. Early |
| good, they make it look natural. Sometimes it seems | | | | dancers in the 18th century were burdened by |
| as if they are defying gravity with their leaps and | | | | corsets, masks, wigs, heeled shoes and hoopskirts. |
| they manage to keep a perfect balance as they spin | | | | Soon however, dancers began changing their style of |
| around and around without becoming horribly dizzy | | | | dress to something more recognizable as a style |
| and falling down. | | | | worn today. They discarded their heeled shoes, |
| The history of ballet goes back about 600 years to | | | | hoopskirts and corsets to allow their bodies to move |
| the Renaissance in Europe. Originally dancers would | | | | more freely and to also allow the audience to see |
| entertain audiences in the pauses between opera | | | | the expressive movements as they told the story. |
| scenes. In 1581, the Ballet Comique de la Reine was | | | | Masks and wigs were eventually dropped as well as |
| performed in France and is usually considered to be | | | | the dancers became more expressive in their |
| the first ballet. With this beginning of ballet, France | | | | movements. |
| became the capital and center of the ballet world. In | | | | There have been many dancers and choreographers |
| 1661, King Louis XIV of France founded the Royal | | | | over the years that have left their indelible mark on |
| Academy of Dancing to train dancers to perform for | | | | the dancing world. Ballet is a demanding profession |
| his court. Soon other companies were founded in | | | | and many times, when the dancers become older or |
| other countries; the Russian Imperial Ballet of St. | | | | their bodies begin to rebel on them, they become |
| Petersburg was founded in 1738. The Italians also | | | | choreographers who understand intimately the needs |
| became well known for their style of ballet. In the | | | | of their dancers. Some of the world's most famous |
| early 1800s, more women began performing in ballets. | | | | choreographers began as dancers. |
| Dancing en pointe, or on their toes, also began | | | | Ballet has evolved through the years and has |
| around this time. France was still the capital of the | | | | changed as the needs and wants of the |
| ballet world, but soon dancers graduating from ballet | | | | choreographers and audience have changed. You can |
| school spread out to other countries, most notably | | | | still see the roots of the dancing itself when watching |
| Russia, which soon became large player on the world | | | | a ballet, but those who watched what was |
| stage of ballet. | | | | considered the first ballet in 1581 probably would not |
| In the beginning, most ballets revolved around classic | | | | recognize what it has evolved into today. Some of |
| mythology, usually Greek mythology. Through the | | | | the moves practiced today would be recognizable to |
| years, ballet has evolved and some told stories of | | | | those audiences and the spirit and love of ballet still |
| their own, some interpreted stories from writers | | | | exists much as it did then. |
