Where and how did ballet originate?
07.06.2025 20:58
Engraving of the ballet La Princess d’Elide, Palace of Versailles, Paris, published in ‘Les Plaisirs de L’Isle’, 1673-4
Ballet originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, evolving from elaborate court spectacles that combined dance, music, and poetry. It gain popularity in France when King Louis XIV, a huge ballet fan himself, established the Académie Royale de Danse in 1661, turning ballet into a professional art form. Over the centuries, ballet techniques and styles developed, incorporating influences from various countries, particularly Russia, which became the major center for ballet innovation in the 19th and 20th centuries shaping much of what we consider classical ballet today. Choreographers like Marius Petipa created timeless works that are still performed, and ballet has continued to grow, blending classical moves with modern styles of dance.