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HISTORY
 Ballet
is a form of dancing performed for theatre audiences. Like
many other dance forms, ballet tells a story, expresses a
mood, or reflects the music, but a ballet dancer's technique
(way of performing) and skills differ much from those of other
dancers. Ballet dancers perform many movements that are unnatural
for the body. But when these movements are well executed,
they look very natural and flowing.
Ballet dancers seem to ignore the law of gravity as they
float through the air in long, slow leaps. They keep perfect
balance while they spin like tops without becoming dizzy.
During certain steps, their feet move so rapidly that the
eye can hardly follow the movements. The women often dance
on the tips of their toes, and the men lift them high overhead
as if they were as light as feathers.
Ballet dancers take pride in controlling their bodies, and
ballet audiences share their feelings. The spectators can
feel like they are gliding and spinning along with the dancers.
By using their bodies, ballet dancers are able to express
many emotions, such as anger, fear, jealousy, joy, and sadness.
The lines of the dancers body form beautiful, harmonious designs.
Ballet technique is called classical because it stresses this
purity and harmony of design.
In addition to the dance form called ballet, an individual
performance using classical ballet technique is called a ballet.
Dance pieces involving a group of dancers may also be called
a ballet, even though it may not use classical ballet technique.
For example, works of modern dance, musical comedy, and dance
on television programs may or may not include this technique,
but most of them are called ballets. Classical ballet technique
originally developed in France during the 1600's. Today, French
words are used in all parts of the world for the various steps
and positions of classical ballet. So if i wanted to take
a dance class in France, I wouldn't have to worry about learning
the language.
Ballets are staged and performed by dance companies. The
Artistic Director of a company is in charge of staging the
ballet. In some companies, he or she is also the choreographer,
who decides a ballet's dance movements and teaches them to
the dancers. After a company decides to perform a ballet,
the artistic director tries to produce a harmonious work of
art by blending all the parts of the ballet. These parts include
the dancing, music, scenery, and costumes, all based on the
ballet's story or mood. A ballet can be performed without
music, scenery, or costumes, But usually ballets use all three
parts.
The choreographer, composer, and scenery/costume designer
work together as a team, but the dancing is the most important
part of a ballet. The designer must plan scenery and costumes
that allow the dancers space and freedom of movement.
Different ballet styles have developed in several countries.
For example, the style that developed in the United States
tends to be energetic and fast moving. Ballet in Russia is
often strong, and showy, and French ballet is generally pretty
and decorative, and soft. Ballet dancers travel all over the
world, and adopt different features of foreign styles. As
a result of these international influences, all ballet is
continually being broadened and enriched.
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