The History of Dance

If you have ever taken a ballet class in your lifetime, you will know that dance has much of its origins in France. The majority of technical terms we use in dance today to express a particular movement is French. For example, when we say "plea", we mean to bend. Likewise, when we say "en croix", we mean to dance "in the shape of a cross". This is what makes dance so universal. It is language through movement that we can use to communicate all around the world.

King Louis XIV

King Louis XIV of France was extremely influential in the creation of ballet. He was actually named "The Sun King" because of his outstanding dance performance as Apollo! King Louis XIV took a man named Giovanni Baptista Lulli under his wing, and we are very thankful that he did. Later named Jean Baptiste Lully for his work in France, Giovanni assisted King Louis XIV in creating "ballet de cour". King Louis XIV also established the very first ballet school in the world, called "Academie Royal de Danse".