What is a Ballet?

2 days agoRebecca Richardson

Ballet is a term used to describe both a style of dance and an art form. Did you know that ballet has long been connected to classical music? Many famous works by classical composers were written as ballets to be performed on a stage with costumes, sets, and more. In this post, we’ll learn all about ballet, plus a few terms that will help us understand this musical genre even better.

Terms to Know:

Theater (review) – a live performance of storytelling, involving actors, spoken dialogue, sets, and costumes.

Choreography – the sequence of steps, movements, and gestures that tell a story through dance.

Waltz – a waltz is both a dance and a musical genre. In music, it refers to a melody being written in triple time. When you listen to a waltz, you would be able to hear a repeating rhythmic pattern of 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, etc.

Variation – a solo performed by a dancer within a ballet

Act – how a theater production is divided. Each act is made up of a series of scenes. Intermissions are often used between acts.

Intermission – a short pause or break in a theatrical production or concert.

What is a Ballet?

Ballet is an art form centered around a specific style of dancing that developed over 500 years ago! It’s is similar to an opera in that it’s a combination of theater and music performed on stage with sets, costumes, and music. However, instead of singing or speaking dialogue, the characters of a ballet use choreography to tell a story. Being able to dance in a ballet production takes years of training and dedication, much like learning an instrument or a sport with skill. In fact, a professional ballet dancer undeniably falls under the category of an athlete.

If you’d like to learn more about what it takes to become a professional ballet dancer, check out this episode of ICAN Become!

Famous Ballets from History

The Nutcracker by Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s ballet, The Nutcracker, is a holiday favorite all over the world. Perhaps you just saw a production this past December. Centered around a Christmas Eve celebration, a young girl named Clara receives a Nutcracker doll as a gift, which then comes to life and takes her on an adventure through a magical forest. They encounter dancing snowflakes, sugary treats, and more.

Let’s watch one of the most famous moments from The Nutcracker—the Waltz of the Snowflakes:

Giselle by Adolphe Adam

While he wrote many pieces of music, Adolphe Adam’s most famous work is his ballet, Giselle. The story follows a joyful young woman named Giselle who falls in love with a man named Albrecht. Sadly, Albrecht ultimately betrays Giselle’s trust. Giselle dies of a broken heart, and soon a group of spirits called the Wilis summon her ghost. The Wilis curse the men who have betrayed them. However, even in death, Giselle finds a path to forgiving Albrecht for the wrong he caused her.

Here is Giselle’s famous variation from the first act of the ballet, which demonstrates her joy for life:

Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev

Oftentimes, like movies or TV shows, ballets are based on stories from literature. Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet is based on the famous play by William Shakespeare. A young man and a woman from feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulets, fall in love, leading to a beautiful yet short love story and a tragic ending.

Let’s experience one of the most recognizable moments from the ballet—the Dance of the Knights—which musically portrays the harsh discord between the Montague and Capulet families: