We have all seen ballet dancers gracefully gliding across the stage. But what is this dance form all about and where did it come from? Let's take a closer look at the art of the ballet dance. Few people realize just how much effort and self discipline is required to be successful at this breathtaking art. Individuals interested in strapping on a pair of ballet slippers should do some research and visit a ballet class before making any final decisions.

As spectacular as ballet dancing is, we can't help but to wonder where it originated from. During the Renaissance period, the arts and the interest in learning about them grew at a speedy pace. Dukes were constantly competing with one another by putting on expensive performances, and showcasing talented dancers. According to historians, the first official ballet, Comique de la Reine, was performed in 1581 at a royal wedding in France. The performance lasted for five and a half hours.

The concept of ballet swept the globe, and commonly, we see romantic tones through a ballet performance. This idea of using ballet to express romance originated from ballets that told the stories of Greek mythology. A very interesting concept about why ballet was introduced was to propagate female importance, since this new form of artistic expression granted women a greater role, as the male dancers are utilized to lift the female dancers.

A ballet dance is truly an art form. It is not easily compared with the skills of other dancers. A ballet dancer performs several unnatural body movements, while looking completely natural, and will perform a dance that expresses a mood, reflects the music, or encompasses an emotion. Female performers typically dance on the very tips of their toes, and male dancers lift them up, as if they weighed next to nothing. As well, performers are able to use their bodies to express anger, love, fear, sadness, and even jealousy. A group of performers is led and directed by an artistic director, and it is the director's responsibility to blend the performers, costumes, scenery and music together into a cohesive whole.

Joining a ballet dance class at an early age is a great start. Remember, you will have hard work ahead of you and you will need to allow plenty of time for practice on a weekly basis. Usually, the hard work will pay off by the time you reach your early twenties. At that point, if you have been practicing since an early age, you should be able to take your dance to the next level. If ballet is a dance that you are considering, then be prepared for the strenuous physical demands that come with it.

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