Ballet (French: [balɛ]) 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 and highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary. Ballet, theatrical dance in which a formal academic dance technique—the danse d’ecole—is combined with other artistic elements such as music, costume, and stage scenery.

Understanding the Context

The academic technique itself is also known as ballet. Learn more about the history of ballet in this article. Learn the basics of Ballet, a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century, developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia, and has since become a widespread and highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary. Ballet Basics: A Quick Guide to Understanding Ballet - The Kennedy Center Scroll through a brief ballet history from its where ballet originated in the 15th-century Italian renaissance courts to what ballet dance looks like in the 21st century.

Key Insights

Find the best ballet performances near you. Browse the schedule of all current and upcoming Ballet performances on tour in 2026/2027. These mesmerizing ballet shows will leave you breathless and provide great memories for years. Tickets start at just $57, with an average price of $165. Don’t miss your favorite ballet this season.

Final Thoughts

Buy ballet tickets in advance for perfect seats. Find the most important and interesting ballet news, reviews, stories, and performances on The Ballet Herald: an independent voice in the cultural conversation. Ballet in general has many styles, the most well-known being Romantic Classical Ballet. This is the style of Ballet that relies heavily on the female ballerina taking to pointe in a gleaming tutu.