Dancing

Featuring a complete history of dances like those from the military, the Far East and Ancient Egypt, Dancing: Ancient and Modern includes a large section on the history of ballet. Originating in the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century, ballet developed into a real dance form in France and Russia in the mid-1700s. In the early 19th century, ballet dancers and choreographers began to practice differing forms of ballet, including classical, neoclassical and contemporary styles. The most popular form of the time influenced how most picture ballet dancers today, females wearing pink or white tutus. Today, ballet is a well-respected and highly technical art form that has been globally influential for other dance genres. Ballet performances like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake remain some of the most well-known dance performances in history.