How did Ballet develop from the change in dancewear?

The development of dance changed with the development of dance costumes. Royal Patronage, fashions and professional dancers played important roles in the development of Dance and Dancewear. Ballet was initially a combination of professional acrobatics and folk dance with an aristocratic grace performed for the leisure of the monarchy.

Men’s clothing wasn’t very practical, they wore heavily brocaded tunics and coats which were very stiff and breeches limited movement of the knees. Heavy wigs and swords to the waist reduced movement while small heeled shoes disabled the pointe of feet. Woman wore clothing even more unsuitable for dancing, stiff lacy long sleeved bodices and panniered skirts. This shows us that the importance of dancewear should not be overlooked because dancers were less skilled then they are now and so were not bothered by bulky costumes.

During the early 1700's, fashions in ballet costumes began to change. The great dancer Marie Camargo shortened her ball...