Ballet is a theatrical form of dance that originated as an outgrowth of court pageants in Renaissance Italy and was further developed by the French court of King Louis XIV. Ballet has now found a stronghold throughout the world.
Ballet puts great emphasis on the method and execution of movement. Dancers rotate their legs outward from the hip and utilize five basic positions. Women frequently dance "en pointe" in specialized shoes which allow them to literally dance on their toes.
Getting Started with Ballet Training
Because ballet is a highly technical form of dance, professional dancers typically begin their training at a very young age. However, recreational classes for both adult and child amateurs are taught in most major American cities.
Consult your local phone book or online resources like Dance Magazine's Dance Finder database to locate a school near you.
Notable Ballet Dancers
- Anna Pavlova
- Mikhail Baryshinikov
- Margot Fonteyn
- Vaslav Nijinsky
- Maria Tallchief
- Arthur Mitchell
- Rudolph Nureyev
Notable Classical Ballets
- The Nutcracker
- La Bayadere
- Swan Lake
- Giselle
- Sleeping Beauty
- The Firebird
Notable Ballet Choreographers
- Marius Petipa
- Frederick Ashton
- Agnes de Mille
- Jerome Robbins
- George Balanchine
- Christopher Wheeldon
- William Forsythe
Four Swans--Swan Lake
The dance of the four little swans is among the most fun and popular ballet dances. This quirky little dance appears in the great ballet Swan Lake.
References
Fast Facts
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Origin
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Materials requires
Ballet slippers or pointe shoes, leotards, tights
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Variations
Classical ballet, Neoclassical ballet, Contemporary ballet
