Color: Multicolored
The roots of ballet can be traced to Italy during the Renaissance,
when people developed a great interest in culture and learning. At that
time, the dukes who ruled the country were growing very wealthy, and
they promoted the arts. However, historians consider the French work
Ballet Comique de la Reine to be the first formal ballet
performance. Lasting over five hours, it was staged in 1581 in honor of a
royal wedding.
Ballet Comique de la Reine established Paris as the ballet capital
of the world, and professional dancing began there. Until then, the
dancers were noblemen and noblewomen who danced to please their rulers.
Russian-born George Balanchine, who established the School of
American Ballet, contributed much to ballet dancing here. Mikhail
Baryshnikov, world-famous Russian dancer, defected to the West in 1974
and soon joined the American Ballet Theatre in New York City. During the
1980s, he served as director of the school. Other leading American
dancers include Robert Joffrey, Nora Kaye, and Arthur Mitchell.
Today, ballet performers must be believable actors and actresses as
well as expert dancers. The art has undergone many changes in recent
years, including dances set to popular rather than classical music.