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A few of the primary ballet positions (YouTube screengrab)

The Origins of Ballet

Can you imagine a party where every movement and every visual detail were governed by a complex system of rules and procedures? For centuries, such rituals were commonplace for European nobility. And while they’ve gone out of fashion, we recognize the components under a familiar label: ballet (from the balletto, or "little dance").

Dance instructors Jennifer Tortorello and Adrienne Westwood, along with TedEd, have put together this video which dives into ballet's origins. Watch the video below to learn more, and see the entire lesson on TedEd's website.

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