The History of Ballet

Ballet

Many young girls grow up taking ballet class, but there is a lot more to ballet than just little girls running around in tutus. Many people think that ballet is boring or isn’t their thing but there are many roles that go into putting on a ballet. A lot of work goes into doing a ballet. There are many famous ballets that without the story, the ballet wouldn’t be as interesting. There were many influential dancers and choreographers in ballet. There are many basic steps that frame the technique of ballet. Ballet is very physically and mentally demanding. Ballet is an art that many people misunderstand, but there is so much more to ballet.

Ballet first originated in Italy in the 1400’s, its purpose was to impress the nobility of other countries. The ballerinas would wear the fashion of the times, with big dresses, wigs, and shoes that were not good for dancing in. Ballet was brought to France when Catherine de Medicis married King Henri II. She brought the culture of ballet with her to Paris. Eventually Paris became the capitol of the ballet world. Up until 1681 all of the female ballet roles were played by men. Many people fell in love with ballet. George Balanchine brought ballet to America.

Pointe shoes are special shoes the women wear to dance on their toes. The tip of the shoe, called the box is made out of tightly packed layers of paper mache, fabric, or cardboard. This needs to be very sturdy, because the dancer will be putting all of her weight on it. The sole of the shoe, or the shank, is made out of leather board or red board, it is important for this to be sturdy, because it supports your ankles. In some professional companies pointe shoes are custom made to fit the dancer’s foot perfec...

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...d rushes to see Odette. He apologizes to Odette. Odette tells him she has no choice but to kill herself, and he decides that he cannot live without her and they jump into the lake together. Cinderella is the story of a girl whose father died, and her stepmother made her into a servant. The prince is throwing a ball, and Ella wishes to go to it. A fairy godmother appears and makes Ella’s rags into a beautiful ball gown, and gives her glass slippers. She goes to the ball and dances with the prince, but she must leave before the clock strikes midnight or until her gown will turn back into rags. As she is leaving, she loses a shoe. The prince goes through the city looking for her, sizing the shoe on each girl. Cinderella steps up and says that she was the girl, she tries on the shoe and it fits perfectly. Cinderella and the prince end up getting married.