Thank You, Pierre Beauchamps
The French King Louis XIV was a ballet fan and even performed it himself. His ballet master was a man named Pierre Beauchamps, who has greatly shaped ballet as we know it today.
In the 1700s, Monsieur Beauchamp established the five footwork positions every little ballet dancer learns during their first class.
The Swan Lake Story
Known to many as one of the most successful ballets in history, Swan Lake is actually a ballet interpretation of a German/Russian folk tale about a princess who was turned into a swan by an evil witch's curse.
Other than the ballet, the story has been adapted into various art forms, such as anime, film (both live-action and animated), video games, and more.
Costumes Used to Be a Lot Heavier
The costumes most ballet dancers wear today are made with light and stretchy fabrics for obvious reasons but that hasn't always been the case.
The first ballet costumes ever made were heavy and didn't allow for the same movement range that modern-day costumes do. The change is credited to Marie Camargo, a 1720s ballerina who shortened her ballet dress so her ankles were visible. That paved the way for other changes in the future.
The Five Positions
The five footwork positions, when performed correctly, ensure the dancer's weight is distributed evenly.
While the five positions' visible differences are the placement of the feet, they also differ in subtle changes in the hips, shoulders, and even in the head!
Health Is a Ballet Company's #1 Priority
In order to fight the stigma that links ballet with eating disorders, many ballet dance companies make sure to hire dancers with healthy bodies.
Some companies even go to the length of having health professionals (physical therapists and nutritionists) tend to their dancers and keep them fit and on a healthy diet.