Ballet is a dance and art that has evolved through many points throughout history. It started during the Italian renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its spreading from Italy to France was l because of Catherine de Medici's influence. Catherine de Medici was a queen in the 15th century and had great political and social power. Aristocratic money was used to fund entertainment. It was royal money that dictated the ideas portrayed in ballet. The first formal ballet that was funded was in 1573.

Contrary to popular belief, most premier dancers were male. The first female premier dancer was Mlle La Fontaine. Ballet was seen as lower than vocal music until the late 1700s. Ballet d' action was born to combine the art of dance and mimery. Soon the world changed after the defeat of Napoleon. The economic closes were expanding and ballet and disposable income became more popular.

(romantic tutu)

During the 19th century, Giselle and Lasyphilde were created during the Romantic movement. The romantic movement influenced art, fashions music and of course entertainment like Ballet. Stories revolved around the supernatural world and often involved female characters that were passive and demure. These ballets were known as romantic ballets. Pointe work(dancers dancing on their toes) became the norm during this time. The romantic tutu became popular as well. These tutus were longer and softer. As the popularity of ballet rose, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty were created. Then the classical tutu was introduced to show off the dancers more complicated moves. 

 (classical tutu)

Ballet today has now even become more experimental with its story choices, music, and different costume choices. Choreographer George Balanchine is a choreographer and the founder of the New York City Ballet. He introduced Neo classical ballet which is the expansion of the classical form. He is also known as the inventor of the storyless ballet, which is a ballet that tells new stories based on movement and music.

Choreographers, dancers and musicians are opening up new ways to see ballet all the time. Even singer Solange composed music for a ballet in New York too. If you want to read a previous article on that, you can here! In the future, you should definitely go check out something ballet related in the future.