Displaying Sophistication with Masks and Curtsies: The Early History of Ballet

Ballet has been described as an art form created by the movement of the human body. It is a type of dance performed on a stage in front of an audience. The word ballet is derived from the French word ballette, which in turn was taken from the Italian word balletto, the diminutive of the word ballo, which means a dance.

Today this word conjures, in most people’s minds, the image of graceful female dancers leaping through the air in their tutus. The centuries-long history of ballet, however, is not pervaded by the modern stereotypical image of this art form. In fact, the ballets of the past, especially from this dance’s earlier period, looked quite different from the performances of today.

The Origins of Ballet

Ballet is commonly said to have originated in Renaissance Italy. Whilst some suggest that it began sometime between the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, others date this type of dance to the 17th century.

For those who subscribe to the former suggestion, ballet is said to have begun as a type of entertainment to fill the time between the various courses at a banquet. For example, 1489 saw the marriage of the Duke of Milan, Galeazzo Visconti, to Isabella of Aragon in Tortona. To celebrate this joyous occasion, a choreographer by the name of Bergonzio di Botta prepared a series of dances (known as ‘entrées’) to complement the different courses that were being served at the wedding banquet. These dances were closely related to the menu, and drew inspiration (to some extent) from Classical mythology. For instance, the roast lamb was preceded by the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece.