The term ‘classical ballet’ refers to the traditional, formal style of ballet that has been taught for centuries. It is characterised by precise and highly structured movements, graceful lines and engaging stories. Its roots can be traced back to the Renaissance period in Italy, where it was developed as an art form.
The father of classical ballet is widely accepted to be Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687), a French composer who developed the form from courtly dances of the time. He introduced a more structured technique with steps, positions and choreography that became the foundation for what we now consider classical ballet.
He also laid down rules for costume and décor which are still followed today. Lully is credited with popularising ballet in France and bringing it from courts to public performances.
Lully’s work was continued by other influential composers such as Pierre Beauchamp (1636-1705) and Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764). Beauchamp developed the five basic positions of classical ballet, as well as introducing pointe work into the repertoire. Rameau wrote music specifically for ballets, while also refining the structure of existing pieces.
Marie Taglioni (1804-1884) is another important figure in classical ballet history. She was one of the first ballerinas to perform on pointe and her performance in La Sylphide (1832) established her as one of the greatest ballerinas of all time. Her style influenced many later generations of dancers and she is credited with creating a more emotional approach to performing classical ballet.
Marius Petipa (1818-1910) was an influential choreographer who worked extensively on ballets such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, and Raymonda. He developed adagio movements into more expressive shapes which are still used today, as well as introducing some of his own steps such as pirouettes and grand jetes into dramatic pieces like Giselle’s solo variation in Act II.
Enrico Cecchetti (1850–1928) was an Italian dancer who popularised his own version of Russian Imperial Ballet technique that was later named after him – Cecchetti Method – which focused on strength, agility and precision combined with artistic expression. His technique has been widely adopted by many schools around the world including The Royal Ballet School in London, England; The Bolshoi Ballet School in Moscow; The Paris Opera Ballet School; The Grand Opera House in Paris; La Scala Theatre Ballet School in Milan; The Martha Graham School in New York City; American Ballet Theatre; Boston Ballet Company; Houston Ballet Company; Stockholm Opera House Dance Academy, Sweden; Tokyo National University of Fine Arts & Music Dance Department Japan; Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company Canada etcetera.
“A true artist should be able to create something new from something old”
. This quote from Enrico Cecchetti perfectly sums up what it takes to become a master at classical ballet – taking influences from past masters while developing something new at the same time.
From its earliest beginnings right up until today’s contemporary productions, classical ballet has remained one of the most beloved art forms worldwide due to its captivating stories, stunning costumes and graceful movements.
“Who Is The Pioneer Of Classical Ballet?”
. Without a doubt Jean-Baptiste Lully can be considered as one of the main pioneers behind Classical Ballet thanks to his introduction of more complex techniques which set it apart from courtly dances at that time period.