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Ballet is a dance form.
Ballet is also the name of a dance technique. Dance works choreographed using this techique are called
Ballets. Ballets can include:
Ballets can also be part of an Opera.
There are four main categories of ballet:
- Romantic ballet
- Classical ballet
- Modern ballet
- Neoclassical
ballet
and several schools of ballet instruction including:
Since its beginnings in the Italian court dances of the late 14th century (see History
of dance), ballet has been developed throughout Europe, Russia and the United States. Consequently there are
several methods of ballet instruction which differ slightly in the
presentation and execution of the standard ballet technique.
Dancing en pointe (or
pointe work) began in the middle of
the 18th century, when the Italian dancer Marie Taglioni rose to the tips of her toes in the ballet La Sylphide, choreographed by her
father Filippo Taglioni.
She was the first dancer to dance en pointe throughout the entire ballet. Before this, ballet dancers would only balance
on their toes for a few moments due to lack strength and support of the foot. Marie Taglioni not only developed
strength in her feet to enable extended periods of pointe work but also the first pointe shoes. Today
pointe work is an essential part of
ballet technique.
While pointe work is usually practiced and performed by female dancers some roles in ballets call for the male dancers to
perform en pointe.
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Related articles
- Glossary of ballet terms
- Romantic ballet
- Classical ballet
- Modern ballet
- Neoclassical
ballet
- Deconstructivist ballet / Post-structuralist ballet
Ballet companies
Famous ballets
Ballet dancers and choreographers
to come
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