Ballet, the foundation of nearly all modern dance styles, has a long and interesting history. The roots of modern ballet can be traced back to the court dances and spectacles of the 15th and 16th century. Check out this article on the history of ballet by Core of Culture, a non-profit dedicated to safeguarding intangible world culture and assuring the continuity of ancient dance traditions where they originate.

The Royal Ballet of the Dowager of Bilbao's Grand Ball, 1626
The Royal Ballet of the Dowager of Bilbao’s Grand Ball, 1626

King Louis XIV in Ballet de la nuit, 1653
King Louis XIV in Ballet de la nuite, 1653

17th c ballet
Ballet Costume, 1770

Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty, 1890
Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, 1890

Mathilde Kschessinskaya
Russian ballerina Mathilde Kschessinskaya in “The Talisman” at Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia, 1905

Raisa Struchkova in Sleeping Beauty, 1954

Raisa Struchkova in Sleeping Beauty, 1954

Misty Copeland, 2016

Misty Copeland, 2016