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Ballet originated in Italy in the late 1400’s, during the Renaissance. Louis the fourteenth of France opened the first ballet school, Academie Royale de Danse. In the 1800’s the American Ballet Theatre opened and soon the National Ballet of Canada. Winnipeg now has its own ballet company, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Almost every wealthy country is most likely to have a ballet company.

In 1832, Marie Taglioni who danced in the original ballet La Sylphide, was daring enough to shorten her skirts so the audience could see her rise onto her toes. This ballet inspired many changes in ballet, through style, technique and costume.

Before the tutu was invented dancers wore masks, layers upon layers of brocaded costuming, pantaloons, large headdresses and ornaments. Such restrictive clothing was sumptuous to look at, but difficult to move in. Dance steps were composed of small hops, slides, curtsies, promenades and gentle turns. Dancing shoes had small heels and resemb...