Ballet, a graceful dance form dates back to the 14th century. In fact, it was initially called balleto and has its origins in Italy. Balleto loosely translates as dances performed to portray some form of theatrical depiction or story. Comedies, stories and events during ancient times were performed.

Domenico di Piacenza named the dance balleto because it was performed on toes and had graceful movements. Daughter of the ruling Florence family, Catherine de Medicis married King of France Henri II in the year 1553. This was the beginning of the great ballet history, which would travel numerous places and become a dance associated with the rich and elite!

When Catherine de Medicis moved over to France, she arranged a group of dancers to perform in her courts. She hired a chief musician Balthasar de Beaujoyeulx for the same. Beaujoyeulx was also responsible for designing costumes and decorating the stage. Here, the first ballet drama was performed in Paris outside Italy. Five hindered dancers were roped in to perform the epic Greek myth of Circe.

In the fifteenth century, when the Italian Renaissance was its peak, huge importance was laid on costume designing to highlight the beauty of the dance. The name ballet was a French version of balleto and has been called so ever since. In the late 1600s, King Louis XIV of France was so impressed with ballet that he decided to establish the Royal Academy of Dance. Today it is popularly known as “Paris Opera Ballet”.

The popularity of the dance slowly grew to other European countries like Russia and finally reached America.