Ballet is a type of dance that many people know of. It all started in Italian Renaissance Courts, during the time when there were many kings and queens. Ballet was originally used for purposes such as greeting royals or important people. Some examples of this are curtsying, bowing and standing or walking in a certain position/posture. Doing these things was a way of showing respect. Keep reading to find out more information!
Eventually, in the 16’th century, ballet was brought to France, where it was then developed as a style of dance. Moves like pliés (translating to English as the act of bending your legs) and rond de jambes (circling one leg around the other) were created there. This is the reason why there are so many ballet-related terms that are French- and the word ballet itself is French!
Over time, other styles of ballet have been created as the dance evolved. They include classical ballet, romantic ballet, neoclassical ballet and contemporary ballet:
Classical ballet includes more of the five positions. The five positions are poses that your legs and/or arms are required to be in for certain dance moves. In classical ballet, ballerinas usually wear tight outfits with pancake tutus. A pancake tutu is a type of tutu that is stiff, meaning it stays flat and in a certain position. Dancers are also often on pointe. Someone who is on pointe has their toe(s) on one or both feet supporting all their body weight, and doing so requires years of training, otherwise you could badly hurt yourself.
Romantic ballet usually has a story to it. The story is often dramatic, with romance included. There are usually multiple people involved in one performance. Sometimes, they include tragic narratives. Dancers still used pointe work to make it look as if they were floating across the stage, and long bell-shaped tutus (longer tutus but fluffy and less stiff) were popular during this era. Those specific types of tutus helped the ballerinas look graceful and elegant.
Unlike classical and/or romantic ballet, neoclassical ballet doesn't have elaborate costumes or storylines. It mainly involves the movement of the dancers and the actual dance itself. Also, the costumes are minimalistic (simple) and pointe work is still used.
With contemporary ballet, floor work as well as use of the torso and upper body movement is used. The arm movements can be very elaborate. Sometimes, it can sort of tell a simple story- and sometimes, it's just about the dance. This style of ballet abandons classical music, and flat ballet shoes are sometimes used.
In conclusion, ballet and the history behind it is really interesting to me- so that's why I decided to share what I know about it with others by writing this article! I hope you enjoyed reading!