Ballet+History

A lot of the time, people wonder just "who" invented ballet. The answer is not that one person just thought it up one day, but that over time, many different people, places, and cultures contributed to the creation of the dance.
 * Ballet- A Creation**

 // Mariafrancesca Garritano, Italian Prima Ballerina //
 * Italian Influence**

A very early form of ballet was being practiced in Italy during the Renaissance. Court "Ballet" was a mix of poetry, dance, painting, and music. They became so popular that members of the high society were always trying to outdo one another when it it came to parties. Catherine de Medici's family staged multiple court dances because of her love of dance, and though they did not "invent" ballet, they were what really started excitement over the dance form, and turned it into a popular, fun, party favorite.

//**A French Favorite**//  // Noella Pontois, French Professional Dancer //

When Catherine de Medici married the King Henry of France, she started to stage Balletti, the Italian term for the dances. The French turned balletti into Ballet, so it wasn't really one person who decided one day to create a whole multitude of dance steps, terms, and rules, it was adapted over time from court dances to a complex art form. When Catherine's sister married another frenchmen, the very first full-length ballet followed the wedding ceremony. French court ballets were different from the Italian court ballets mainly because the French ones followed a small plot, while the Italian dances were purely just one step after another. The dancers got to wear beautiful costumes, and stage setting and effects were incorporated to add "oomph" to the dances.

//**Russian Repertoire**//  // Anna Pavlova, a famous Russian ballerina //

When ballet spread to Russia, though it was meant mainly for royalty, the poor could often afford a ticket in the rayok (paradise gallery). Full-length story ballets with multiple scenes and and dancers grew in popularity in Russia also. A popular example of a ballet of the Russian style is Swan Lake. In the early 1900s, Russian ballet companies came to Western Europe and the United States and lit the flame for a love of ballet that will last for centuries to come.

Throughout the years, there have been many additions to the way ballet is taught. Balanchine, Vaganova, and Checchetti and many other methods are taught. Different variations and styles add new twists and beginnings for ballet, and it will always keep growing and changing with the rest of the world.

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