A Brief History of Ballet

A Brief History of Ballet

Ballet originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century before flourishing in France under Louis XIV, the “Sun King,” who established the first official ballet academy in 1661. By the 19th century, ballet had transformed into the Romantic era’s crowning jewel, with iconic works like Giselle and Swan Lake defining its emotional depth and technical complexity. The 20th century saw pioneers like George Balanchine and Vaslav Nijinsky push boundaries, blending classical techniques with avant-garde innovation.