Ballet

From ArticleWorld

Ballet is a term used to describe a special type of dancing that includes specific techniques. It is also the name of a choreographed dance that uses these techniques. Such a performance is made up of dancing, miming, acting and music. They are usually used as a stand alone show or will be presented as part of an opera. The word “Ballet” was first used by Domenico de Piacenza.

History

Ballet started evolving in Italy, during the Renaissance. It was picked up by French “ballet de cour”, being first performed by noble men and women, combining songs, music, speeches, verses, acting, costumes and décor. During the reign of Louis XIV this new type of entertainment started to be known and the first ballet school was opened: “Academie Royale de Danse”. The first ballet was composed by Jean-Baptist Lully in the same year as the opening (1661). The main difference between now and then consisted of the actual dancing being performed between the acts of a theatre play. During the 18th century ballet changed. It evolved by enhancing the techniques used and changing the music associated with it. As three types of opera were being developed (comique, demi-caractere and serieux) so did ballet. It was still linked with interludes, being performed to give opera singers time to recover for the next scene. The 19th century was a turning point and formed ballet as we see it today. Romantic Ballet was developed and the introduction of pointework by Fanny Elssler and Marie Taglioni provided the needed boost to make ballet a distinctive form of performance. Although there has been a decline after 1850 and World War II, because of several teachers and companies that still worked hard to enhance this type of dancing, a constant increase in ballet popularity among the general public can be seen today.