Art Forms: Dance: A Short History of Ballet: From the Old World to the New World

• In the beginning, the role of ballet was as a component of opera. Its dates back to 15th and 16th centuries and of course, it was a form of entertainment for aristocrats. It began during the Italian Renaissance and spread from Italy to France; then later, as the art form developed, it spread from France to Russia. Russia took ballet to the next level and created one of the most famous ballet stages, the Imperial Ballet of the Russian Empire.
• Maling, Michel. “The Impressive Imperial Russian Ballet And Its History.” Dancers Forum, 31 Mar. 2019.
• Gal, Grace. “The Golden Age of Russian Ballet: The Imperial Ballet and the Ballets Russes.” Ballerina Gallery, 10 Mar. 2025.

In Italy, Domenico da Piacenza became one of the first ballet dancing masters, and in 1573, the first ballet performed was Ballet de Polonaise. In France, Pierre Beauchamp formalized the dance by codifying the five positions of the feet and arms. First Italy, then France, and then ballet spread to Germany, Spain, Poland, and Portugal.

By the 18th century, three formal techniques had been developed: sérieux, demi-caractère, and comique. By the 19th century, ballerinas, i.e., female ballet dancers, had become popular, and they played male roles in the story; and the boxed toe ballet shoes became the standard part of the ballet costume. Ukraine, Hungary, Prague, and Vienna established national organizations to promote ballet.

Meanwhile, Russian ballet continued its rise to prominence; although in the USSR, the ballet dancers were pressured to promote socialism and the government's ideology. By the 20th century, after the Revolution, Russian ballet was brought back to Paris.

Ultimately, ballet made its way to the USA, the new world, where it was adapted so that it could be viewed on television and in the movies. Unlike in Russia, there was no pressure to promote government ideals. The arts allowed and encouraged freethinking and freedom of movement. Various ballet dance styles developed, in addition to classical ballet. There was now contemporary ballet (which mixed classical ballet with modern dance); and neoclassical ballet (which mixed classical and contemporary ballet).

• BALLET TRAIL. From Italy TO Russia TO America. From the Old World TO the New World. From being a component of opera and only enjoyed by the privileged elite TO becoming an art form taught, enjoyed, and appreciated by everyone, not just the aristocrats.

* HISTORY OF BALLET IN AMERICA: PIVOTAL MOMENTS:

History.com Editors. “Soviet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov defects from U.S.S.R.” HISTORY, A&E Television Networks, 29 Jun. 2020, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/june-29/mikhail-baryshnikov-defects-cold-war-dancer.

“About: American Ballet Theatre (ABT).” American Ballet Theatre, Ballet Theatre Foundation, Inc, 28 June 2021, https://www.abt.org/the-company/about/#history.

Phillips, Craig. “Breaking Barriers on Stage: African American Ballet Dancers Who Made History.” PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), Independent Television Service (ITVS), 10 July 2019, https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/blog/breaking-barriers-on-the-stage-african-american-ballet-dancers-history/.

LIVEKellyandRyan. (2018, October 22). Misty Copeland is the First African American Principal Dancer at the American Ballet Theatre [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/NtvRR1g4TAo?si=_TgiYJPXaw31-kBO

Cheryl E Preston. “Racial History Is Evolving through Ballet.” FYI, 14 Dec. 2021, https://shopping-feedback.today/fyi/racial-history-is-evolving-through-ballet.%3C/p%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="14azzlx-P">.css-14azzlx-P{font-family:Droid Serif,Georgia,Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-size:1.1875rem;-webkit-letter-spacing:0.01em;-moz-letter-spacing:0.01em;-ms-letter-spacing:0.01em;letter-spacing:0.01em;line-height:1.6;color:#1A1A1A;margin-top:32px;}

* Three (3) One-Act Ballets

1. Carmen Suite. "The ballet has everything: Spanish passion, rejected love, and a cruel ending."

2. The Spirit of the Rose. "The girl has a dream that the Ghost of a Rose flies into her open window."

3. The Young Man and Death. "This is a psychological ballet."

REFERENCE: Sophya. “Bright Stars on the Theatrical Firmament or a Few Words about One-Act Ballets.” Forum Coin, 9 Feb. 2020, https://forumcoin.com/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=27287.

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