15th Century (France): After noblewoman Catherine de Medici married King Henry II of France, she funded ballet for the French Court and eventually established a ballet program.

17th Century (France): King Louis XIV founded the Académie Royale de Danse (Royal Academy of Dance) ballet school in 1661. In 1672, King Louis XIV appointed Jean-Baptiste Lully as the director of the Paris Opera, leading to the establishment of the Paris Opera Ballet, where French choreographer Pierre Beauchamp became ballet master. In 1681, the first ballerinas took the stage.

19th Century (Europe): In the mid 19th century there was a decline in the popularity of ballet in France, popularity began to spread and grow in other areas of Europe like Russia and Denmark. As ballet continued to expand, it developed into a more romantic dance that emphasized the grace and fluidity of the dancers. Famous story ballets like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake premiered at Russian theaters, showing ballerinas in tulle skirts (tutus) and pointe shoes.

20th century (Worldwide): Ballet begins to transition to a mainstream dance form and companies such as the Royal Ballet of England and the American Ballet Theatre in New York open and begin training some of the world’s most accomplished professional dancers.

Romantic Ballet
Emerged in the 19th century, romantic ballet brought a rise in lead female dancers to emphasize the emotion and drama of the narratives of these story ballets. Previously these roles had been male dominated. Some of the most recognizable aspects of ballet such as tutus and pointe work emerged through this romantic era.

Classical Ballet
A traditional form of ballet which is usually accompanied by a full orchestra, a story driven narrative with fully constructed sets and costumes, and most often led by a female ballerina. The movements that characterize classical ballet include a feeling of weightlessness, leg extensions and a show of flexibility, fluidity and an emphasis on turn out and most often executed en pointe.

Contemporary Ballet
Contemporary dance incorporates classical ballet elements, but is less strict in the style of execution. Contemporary ballet allows for a wider range of movement styles and can be performed, barefoot, in soft shoes, or en pointe.

Neoclassical Ballet
Made its debut in the 1920s and continued to evolve throughout the 20th century. This style was created in rebellion against the overly dramatized style of the Romantic Ballet. The style can be described as cleaner, more simplistic, yet bolder and more assertive. Arguably the most famous Neoclassical ballet choreographer was George Balanchine.

Romeo and Juliet: Tells the famously tragic Shakespearean romance of two star-crossed young lovers from rival families.

Balcony Pas de deux by The Royal Ballet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zXfYygXX0I

Swan Lake: Tells the story of a prince who goes out hunting one night and discovers a swan who turns into a beautiful young woman.

Dance of the Little Swans by Paris Opera Ballet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd2nTXsivHs

The Nutcracker: Set on Christmas Eve, The Nutcracker follows a young girl who shrinks down to the size of a mouse and becomes entangled in a battle between her toy nutcracker and an army of mice.

Waltz of the Flowers by New York City Ballet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKcZL8q1eBw

The Sleeping Beauty: Based on the Charles Perreault tale of a cursed princess who falls into an unbroken slumber after pricking her finger on her sixteenth birthday.

Aurora Variation by The Royal Ballet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOpl9nMptPg&t

Don Quixote: Based on the famous novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes, this ballet features select episodes from the book and turns the story into a performative romantic comedy.

Kitri Variation by The Royal Ballet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ73d68HQCs