The earliest form of ballet originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th and 16th centuries. It was during this period that ballet began to take shape and develop into the graceful and beautiful art form that is recognized today.
The first ballet, known as ‘Ballet de Cour’, was performed in France in 1581. This was a court spectacle that combined music, dance, and theatre to tell a story.
It featured lavish costumes, complex choreography, and intricate sets. This type of ballet was highly influential in the development of modern ballet.
Ballet quickly spread throughout Europe, becoming popular with both royalty and commoners alike. In the early 17th century, Louis XIV established the Académie Royale de Musique et de Danse (Royal Academy of Music and Dance) in Paris to formalize and regulate the artform. This was an important milestone for the development of classical ballet as it brought together some of the best composers, dancers, choreographers, and costumers in Europe at one place to work on refining this new art form.
The 19th century saw further advances in classical ballet with famous works such as Giselle, Swan Lake, Le Corsaire, Romeo & Juliet, The Nutcracker ,and many more being composed by world-renowned choreographers such as Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. Ballet dancers such as Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, Margot Fonteyn also helped popularize this art form around the world with their spectacular performances.
Today, classical ballet is still incredibly popular around the world with many renowned companies staging performances year round for audiences from all walks of life. Ballet has also become increasingly diverse over time with contemporary styles such as neoclassical or modern ballets being developed alongside traditional ones like romantic or Russian ballets.
Conclusion: Ballet became popular during the Italian Renaissance period of the 15th and 16th centuries when it began to take shape and gain recognition as an artform across Europe through royal spectacles like ‘Ballet de Cour’. Its popularity only grew further through works by composers like Marius Petipa or Lev Ivanov along with iconic dancers like Anna Pavlova or Vaslav Nijinsky who helped spread its influence worldwide leading up to its current status today where it is still a beloved performance art around the globe.