What is Ballet Dance?

Ballet is an art form created by the movement of the human body. It is theatrical – performed on a stage
to an audience utilizing costumes, scenic design and lighting. It can tell a story or express a thought,
concept or emotion. Ballet dance can be magical, exciting, provoking or disturbing.

Ballet is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth
century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a
widespread, highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary based on French terminology. It has
been globally influential and has defined the foundational techniques used in many other dance genres
and cultures. Ballet has been taught in various schools around the world, which have historically
incorporated their own cultures and as a result, the art has evolved in a number of distinct ways.

The ballets were performed in large chambers with viewers on three sides. The implementation of the
proscenium arch from 1618 on distanced performers from audience members, who could then better
view and appreciate the technical feats of the professional dancers in the productions.

Where does Ballet Dance came from?

Ballet is a French word which had its origin in Italian balletto, a diminutive of ballo (dance) which comes
from Latin ballo, ballare, meaning "to dance",[1][2] which in turn comes from the Greek "βαλλίζω"
(ballizo), "to dance, to jump about".[2][3] The word came into English usage from the French around
1630.

Ballet originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Under
Catherine de' Medici's influence as Queen, it spread to France, where it developed even further.[4] The
dancers in these early court ballets were mostly noble amateurs. Ornamented costumes were meant to
impress viewers, but they restricted performers' freedom of movement.[5]

Ballet Dancer

A ballet dancer (Italian: ballerina [balleˈriːna] fem.; ballerino [balleˈriːno] masc.) is a person who
practices the art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet; however, dancers have a
strict hierarchy and strict gender roles. They rely on years of extensive training and proper technique to
become a part of professional companies. Ballet dancers are at a high risk of injury due to the
demanding technique of ballet.[1]

Props and Costume

Ballet costumes play an important role in the ballet community. They are often the only survival of a
production, representing a living imaginary picture of the scene.[26]

Renaissance and Baroque

The roots of ballet go back to the Renaissance in France and Italy when court wear was the beginning of
ballet costumes. Ballet costumes have been around since the early fifteenth century. Cotton and silk
were mixed with flax, woven into semitransparent gauze[26] to create exquisite ballet costumes.

Seventeenth century

During the seventeenth century, different types of fabrics and designs were used to make costumes
more spectacular and eye catching. Court dress still remained for women during this century. Silks,
satins and fabrics embroidered with real gold and precious stones increased the level of spectacular
decoration associated with ballet costumes.[26] Women's costumes also consisted of heavy garments
and knee-long skirts which made it difficult for them to create much movement and gesture.

Eighteenth century

During the eighteenth century, stage costumes were still very similar to court wear but progressed over
time, mostly due to the French dancer and ballet-master Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810) whose
proposals to modernize ballet are contained in his revolutionary Lettres sur la danse et les ballets (1760).
Noverre's book altered the emphasis in a production away from the costumes towards the physical
movements and emotions of the dancers.

European ballet was centered in the Paris Opera.[26] During this era, skirts were raised a few inches off
the ground. Flowers, flounces, ribbons, and lace emphasized this opulent feminine style, as soft pastel
tones in citron, peach, pink and pistachio dominated the color range.[26]

Nineteenth century

Olga Spessiva; Swan Lake Costume in the twentieth century

During the early nineteenth century, close-fitting body costumes, floral crowns, corsages and jewels
were used. Ideals of Romanticism were reflected through female movements.[26]

Costumes became much tighter as corsets started to come into use, to show off the curves on a
ballerina. Jewels and bedazzled costumes became much more popular.

Twentieth century
During the twentieth century, ballet costumes transitioned back to the influence of Russian ballet.
Ballerina skirts became knee-length tutus, later on in order to show off their precise pointe work. Colors
used on stage costumes also became much more vibrant. Designers used colors such as red, orange,
yellow, etc. to create visual expression when ballet dancers perform on stage.

Ballet Music

Ballet as a music form progressed from simply a complement to dance, to a concrete compositional
form that often had as much value as the dance that went along with it. The dance form, originating in
France during the 17th century, began as a theatrical dance. It was not until the 19th century that ballet
gained status as a “classical” form. In ballet, the terms ‘classical’ and ‘romantic’ are chronologically
reversed from musical usage. Thus, the 19th century Classical period in ballet coincided with the 19th
century Romantic era in music. Ballet music composers from the 17th–20th centuries, including the likes
of Jean-Baptiste Lully, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Igor Stravinsky, and Sergei Prokofiev, were
predominantly in France and Russia. Yet with the increased international notoriety seen in Tchaikovsky's
and Stravinsky's lifetime, ballet music composition and ballet in general spread across the western
world.[1]

Ballet Steps

Basic Ballet Steps

The first thing to master in terms of ballet steps are the five positions of ballet. From these five
positions, you can learn the following movements:

Pliés

'Plier' is the French word for bend, and this dance step refers to the bending of the knees. There are two
types of pliés: grand plié and simply plié. Grand plié refers to bringing the body almost all the way to the
floor by bringing an extreme bend into the knees; in this movement, the heels of the feet come off the
floor, whereas in a regular plié the heels should stay firmly planted on the ground, and the bend in the
knees is only half as deep as the grand plié.

Tendus

From the French word for 'stretch', tendu, like plié, comes in a few different varieties. A tendu is simply
executed by extending one foot across the floor either to the front of the body, to the side, or to the
rear. When sliding the foot, it is important to pay attention to your knees and feet; when your foot
reaches the tendu position, the knee should be completely straight, and only the toes of the foot should
have contact with the floor. This step is called a tendu, but there are also more advanced types for once
you have mastered the basic ballet steps.

Elevés

This ballet step means 'lifted up', which refers to the fact that this movement is either done on pointe
shoes, or, for beginning dancers, on half-pointe (on the balls of your feet). Elevés are more difficult in
some of the five positions than others, and should be practiced in all positions, as well as both while
holding onto the barre, and without holding on (with arms in the position that corresponds to the
position the feet are in). In addition to 'elevé' is 'relevé', in which the end position is the same (lifted up),
but is executed from plié instead of simply from a straight leg.

Coupés

Before you start learning ballet leaps and difficult balancing steps, coupés are a good step to get one
foot off the floor without being exceedingly difficult. From the French word meaning 'to cut', coupés are
a quick action in which one foot is lifted off the ground in order to produce a changing of weight from
one foot to the other. Learning this quick changing of weight executed in an artistic and graceful way can
help you transition into ballet movements and ballet leaps.

Resources, Advice & Tips for Covid-19

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Ballet Dance Steps

Nadia Santiago

By Nadia Santiago

Young woman practicing balletSOURCE

Mastering ballet takes great technique and consistent practice. With the right instructions, you can learn
ballet dance steps at home. Whether you plan to dance in private or use the steps in a formal class
setting, all you need is discipline and a bit of inspiration to learn and perfect them.

Common Ballet Dance Steps

Some of the most common ballet steps, the ones that you would learn in the first five years of classical
ballet training, are the following movements, steps, turns, and jumps:

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Arabesque

An arabesque is an extension of the dancer's leg off the floor to the back of the body.

Assemblé

An assemblé begins in fifth position. It is a jump in which the front leg extends out to the side and up off
the floor while the supporting leg hops. The extended leg then lands behind the supporting leg in fifth
position.

Attitude

Attitude is a pose in which the dancer's leg is lifted and extended to the front or back of the body, knee
turned out to the side.

Balancé

The balance is also known as the "waltz." It is a three-step combination in which the dancer steps to the
side with one foot, lifts onto the ball of the second foot from behind the ankle, then replaces weight on
the ball of the first foot to begin again on the other side.
Battement

Battement is when the dancer's lifted leg is extended away from the supporting leg. There are a variety
of types. A few are included here.

A petite battement involves small movements, or kicks from one side of the ankle to the other.

In a grand battement, the legs stays completely straight. It lifts to a higher level and moves at a slower
pace.

In a developpe, the knee bends first during the lift, then extends to straight.

Brisé

A brisé is similar to an assemblé in that one foot extends up and out before the jump. There are three
main differences.

The back foot extends and lifts.

The brisé is a lateral movement, traveling right or left.

The feet do not switch positions, but rather return to their starting positions upon landing.

Cabriolé

A cabriolé is a jump in which your legs meet in the front or in the back. One leg is extended first, and the
other is lifted to meet it quickly before landing on the supporting leg.

Male ballet dancer doing cabriolé movementSOURCE

Changement

Changement means "change." The dancer begins in fifth position. He or she jumps and switches which
foot is in front before landing again in fifth position.
Chassé

The chassé is a small moving jump in which the feet tap together in the air. Each jump lands in fourth
position.

Ciseaux

The ciseaux is a split leap with one leg in the front of the body and one in the back.

Coupé

The coupé is a pose in which one foot is pointed behind the ankle of the other leg. You can practice
rising up to relevé from coupé.

Echappé

In echappé, the dancer separates his or her legs and lifts onto the toes. It begins and ends in fifth
position.

Ballet feet position in echappéSOURCE

Emboité

In emboité, the supporting leg is on point while the other is externally rotated. In the rotated leg, the
dancer's toes point to the inside edge of his or her thigh, just above the knee of the supporting leg.

Young girl in ballet emboité moveSOURCE

Glissade
Glissade is a movement in which the dancer slides along the floor, extending one foot out to the side
from fifth position, releasing it to the floor, then gliding the other back into fifth position.

Jeté

A jeté is a quick extension and lift of one leg to the front, back, or side. In this move, the leg should be
completely straight.

Pas de Basque

Pas de basque is a more advanced set of movements that literally translates to "step of the Basques,"
part of the national dance of the Basques in Southern France. This tutorial breaks it down.

Pas de Bourrée

A pas de bourrée is a three step lateral movement, dancing on the toes. To begin, lift the back foot into
coupé.

Pas de Chat

Pas de chat is a leap in which the knees are bent and the toes lift toward the center of the groin. It
begins through a coupé so that one foot lifts and lands before the other.

Pas de Cheval

Pas de cheval is a quick lift and extension of the leg from coupé.
Passé

A passé is the movement of foot up the supporting leg and replacement behind it. You can begin
learning how to do a passe from retire.

Penché

A penché looks like an arabesque. However, there are a few differences.

Your hips are turned out.

Your lifted leg extends high, toes pointed toward the ceiling.

Your torso lowers toward the floor.

Ballerina doing penché in studioSOURCE

Petit Jeté

A petite jete is a jump switch from coupé.

Pirouette

A pirouette is simply a turn. The simplest way to start practicing is by beginning in fourth position.

Plié

To perform a plié, you bend your knees, or squat. This can be done with any basic foot position.

A demi-plié is a small movement. You lower just a bit before returning to the starting position.
The grand plié is a larger movement in which you lower down completely then return to the starting
position.

Port de Bras

Port de bras are arm positions that create a poised and stylized look in the dancer's upper body. They
also help with balance and core engagement. There are three basic positions.

In first position, your hands are in front of your body.

In second position, hands are out to the sides.

In fifth position, your hands are above your head.

In each position, the elbows, wrists, and fingertips are slightly bent.

Relevé

A relevé is simply lifting your heels up so that you are on your toes. It can be performed in any position,
on one or two feet.

Rond de Jambe

In a ron de jambe, the dancer draws a circle from the front of his or her body to the back, toes pointed,
leg long. This can be performed with the toes tracing along the floor or the foot lifted to any height.

Sissonne

A sissonne is a jump which begins with both feet leaving the floor simultaneously. One leg extends out
and up, while the other moves to land. The feet then quickly come back together.
Soubresaut

A soubresaut is a jump beginning in fifth position. The dancer jumps straight up and lands in the same
position. Beginners can practice in third position.

Sous-sus

Sous-sus are releves in which you bring the toes of your front foot to meet the toes of your back foot as
you lift up.

Tendu

A tendu is a simple point of the toe away from your body. It is the foundation of many other moves in
ballet.

References

https://www.pbt.org/learn-and-engage/resources-audience-members/ballet-101/what-is-ballet/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballet

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballet_dancer

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballet_(music)

https://dance.lovetoknow.com/basic-ballet-steps

https://dance.lovetoknow.com/ballet-dance-steps

https://ourpastimes.com/instruments-used-in-ballet-music-12501267.html