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What is the brief history of ballet?
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Ballet, as we know it today, began during the Renaissance around the year 1500 in Italy. In fact, the terms “ballet” and “ball” as in masked ball, come from the Italian ballare, to dance. When Catherine de Medici of Italy married the French King Henry II, she introduced early dance styles into court life in France.
At first, the dancers wore masks, layers upon layers of brocaded costuming, pantaloons, large headdresses and ornaments. Such restrictive clothing was sumptuous to look at but difficult to move in. Dance steps were composed of small hops, slides, curtsies, promenades and gentle turns. Dancing shoes had small heels and resembled formal dress shoes rather than any contemporary ballet shoe we might recognize today.
http://www.atlantaballet.com/new/about/ballet_history.htm
Ballet is said to have originated from King Louis XIV of France. It was originally danced by men wearing heeled shoes and heavy costumes. Marie Taglioni is credited with inventing the first pair of pointe shoes (or “toe” shoes).
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