Did Ballet Start in France?

Ballet

The origins of ballet can be traced back to the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century. It wasn’t until the end of the 16th century, however, that the style of dance we know today as ballet began to emerge.

The first professional ballet company was formed in France in 1661 by Louis XIV. This company, called The Royal Academy of Dance, was composed of professional dancers and musicians who performed at the king’s court in Paris.

By 1681, Louis XIV had established a school for teaching dance to his courtiers and aristocracy. This school was known as The Académie Royale de Danse and was run by Pierre Beauchamp, who is credited with codifying many of the steps that form the basis for modern ballet technique.

The French style of ballet was heavily influenced by Italian dance masters such as Carlo Blasis and Jean-Georges Noverre. Blasis introduced stricter rules for classical dancing such as an emphasis on correct body placement and musicality, while Noverre developed a more dramatic style that focused on storytelling through movement. Both styles were embraced by French choreographers such as Marius Petipa and were incorporated into their works.

By the 19th century, French ballet had become one of the most influential forms of dance in Europe. Famous ballets such as Giselle premiered in Paris to great acclaim and many influential choreographers such as August Bournonville and Lev Ivanov developed their own unique styles based on French technique. In addition, several major companies such as The Paris Opera Ballet were founded during this time period and continue to be major players in the world of ballet today.

Conclusion: It is clear that ballet did indeed start in France during the 17th century under Louis XIV’s rule with The Royal Academy of Dance being formed in 1661. It was further developed by French choreographers such as Marius Petipa and August Bournonville who incorporated both Italian technique from Carlo Blasis and Jean-Georges Noverre along with their own innovations into their work which is still seen today in major companies like The Paris Opera Ballet.