Ballet started out in Italy during the Renaissance in the 1500s. In Italy instead of saying ballet they called it ballet de cour (court ballet). There would be ballet dances performed on a court for entertainment for everyone to see. The dancers would wear fancy, decorated masks. They also wore layered clothing, which was difficult to move in.
Eventually, ballet dancing began to spread to France and soon all over the world.The first professional ballet school was in 1661, and it was created by Louis XIV. Only men were allowed to dance in the studio, they had to wear masks and play women roles. In 1681, women were allowed to be professional ballet dancers. The first ballet performed by women is called Le Triomphe de l'Amour, in English it’s The Triumph of Love.During the second half of the 18th century males dominated ballet dancing.
 |
Over the years ballet dancing has made a drastic turn. Today there are many women ballet dancers and anyone is allowed to join a studio.There has been more types of ballet. Now there are many other ballets like contemporary, romantic, neoclassical,classical, and many more. Dancers are not required to wear fancy, masked, jeweled costumes to perform anymore. You can wear whatever you want to, but the usual outfit of choice for ballet would be a tutu.
