1. BALLET HISTORY What is Ballet?

2. BEGINNINGS OF BALLET  “Ballet” comes from the Italian word ballare, which means to dance.  The dictionary defines ballet as….  Technique is what we refer to things a person needs to know to become skillful in an activity.

3. HOW DOES BALLET DIFFER?  Principles of ballet are based on plie, 5 feet positions, and turnout

4. WHAT WAS EARLY BALLET LIKE?  Court Entertainment  Men danced in masks, heavy, colorful costumes, boots of shoes  Movement was slow and sedated  No stage, danced in audience

5. WHERE DID BALLET COME FROM?  Brought to France from Italy when Catherine de Medicis married King Henry II of France

6. WHERE WAS THE FIRST BALLET SCHOOL STARTED?  Royal Academy of Dancing and Music in 1661, established by Louis XIV  Continued today as what we know as the Paris Opera.  Place where 5 positions of the feet established by Pierre Beauchamp

7. HOW DID BALLET CHANGE?  With new training professionals replaced nobles of the court  Dance space moved from ballroom to stage  Audience had a new view  People who were never invited to see ballet now could - theaters

8. WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE?  Although women were allowed to study at the Royal Academy of Dance they were not permitted to perform.  Boys dressed as girls played female roles  May 16,1681 – 4 ladies danced to music by Jean Baptiste Lully