Classical ballet

Classical ballet is a traditional style of dancing known for its beautiful movements and strict technique. Dancers use special skills like standing on their toes, turning their legs out, and stretching high. The moves are smooth and exact, creating a magical feeling.

Different places have their own way of doing classical ballet. For example, in Russian ballet, dancers often stretch very high and spin quickly. In Italian ballet, the dancing is more close to the ground with fast, tricky steps for the feet. These styles come from famous teachers who created their own training ways. Even with these differences, most classical ballet looks the same all over the world.

History

Main article: History of ballet

Ballet started in the Italian Renaissance courts and was brought to France by Catherine de' Medici in the 16th century. At first, ballet was performed by aristocrats who were not professional dancers. These early dances were based on social court dances and focused on patterns on the stage.

In the 17th century, ballet grew more popular in France and began to change. It was no longer just for amateurs, and performances started to include difficult movements that needed very skilled dancers. To help train these dancers, King Louis XIV created the world's first ballet school, the Académie Royale de Danse, in 1661. The school aimed to improve dance training and create a formal way to teach ballet. A little later, in 1672, King Louis XIV also started a performance group called the Academie Royal de Musique de Dance (now known as the Paris Opera). He asked a dancer named Pierre Beauchamp to lead it. Beauchamp changed ballet by creating the five basic positions that all ballet dancers still use today.

Famous dancers in history

• Anna Pavlova: 12 February 1881 – 23 January 1931
• Dame Margot Fonteyn: 18 May 1919 – 21 February 1991
• Rudolf Nureyev: 17 March 1938 – 6 January 1993

Development

Before classical ballet became popular, there was a style called Romantic ballet. This style focused on storytelling and had a softer look. Classical ballet started when a talented choreographer named Marius Petipa mixed Romantic ballet with Russian ballet techniques. He took the storytelling from Romantic ballet and the athleticism from Russian ballet to create a new style. This new style is known as the classical era of ballet.

Marius Petipa also created dance structures that are still used today. He was the first to use a special dance form called the grand pas de deux. He also made the corps de ballet, a group of dancers that perform together, a regular part of ballets.

Famous classical ballets

• Don Quixote: choreographed by Marius Petipa
• Swan Lake: choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
• The Nutcracker: choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov

Technique

Main article: Ballet technique

Ballet technique is the basic way dancers move and hold their bodies in ballet. One special part of ballet is turnout, where dancers turn their legs and feet outward from the hip. Long ago, King Louis XIV started this so he could show off the shiny buckles on his shoes when he danced. There are five main positions of the feet in ballet, all done with turnout, and they are called first through fifth positions. When ballet dancers jump, they try to look like they are floating in the air for a moment, which is called ballon. Pointe technique is when dancers stand and move on the tips of their toes using special pointe shoes, which are made just for each dancer.

Training

Students in ballet learn special dance words and how to move their bodies correctly. They work hard to make their legs, feet, and middle bodies strong because this helps them spin and do other ballet moves. Dancers also learn to focus while turning to stay steady.

At first, all dancers learn basic steps to build strength and flexibility. As they get better, girls start learning to dance on the tips of their toes, and both boys and girls learn how to dance together and do more complex jumps and spins. When boys get stronger, they learn how to lift their partners.

Music for ballet class

In the past, ballet teachers played violin for their classes and taught students how dance steps matched the music. Later, pianos became common for ballet lessons. Today, some classes use recorded music instead of a live player. A live musician can help dancers by playing music that fits the movements, making the class more creative and fun.

Ballet class attire

Girls usually wear pink or skin-colored tights, a leotard, and sometimes a short skirt or a leotard with a skirt. Boys wear dark tights and a fitted shirt or leotard under the tights, plus a dance belt for support. All dancers wear soft ballet shoes, called flats. Girls often wear their hair in a bun to keep it out of their face. As they get more advanced, girls may start wearing special shoes for dancing on their toes, but only when they are strong enough and their feet have stopped growing.

Methods

There are many ways to teach ballet, each with its own style. Some famous methods are named after the people who created them, like the Vaganova method from Russia and the Cecchetti method from Italy. Other methods, like the one used by the Royal Academy of Dance, were made by a group of ballet teachers. These methods are used all over the world. In America, ballet is often taught in a style created by George Balanchine, but it doesn’t follow one strict system. Similarly, French ballet schools each have their own way of teaching.