Ballet is a dance form which has existed since the period of Italian Renaissance. It is a highly technical form of dance which requires years of training. It is a vigorous and artistic dance and is appreciated by a variety of enthusiasts and classically trained individuals around the world and is also taken up casually as a fitness regiment. Ballet is performed in various styles and has evolved a lot since its inception. Despite becoming more open to new techniques and influences, the foundation of the dance remains the same.
The major stylistic variations of ballet are:
Romantic ballet is influenced by the era of Romanticism and focused on emotions.
The era of romantic ballet started in the early nineteenth century and lasted till the mid nineteenth century.
The centre of attention changed from men to women in this period.
Classical ballet is a formal style of ballet which adheres strongly to the traditional, classical techniques.
This form of ballet originated in the late nineteenth century and continues to exist as one of the most prominent forms of the dance.
One of the most popular classical ballet sequences is Swan Lake.
Neoclassical ballet adheres to the rules of classical ballet but uses abstraction.
There is no real plot to neoclassical performances.
Contemporary ballet takes influences from other forms of art like jazz and is a composite of multiple styles which creates its own new unique fusion.
Ballet is a dance of grace and elegance which makes it evident that the dancers have to remain fit in order to deliver the performances with the expected amount of elegance. This compulsion is the reason why ballet is such a beneficial dance form and has several great traits associated with it. Observe any ballet dancer and you will notice how lithe and thin they are – the reason for this is the intense training ballerinas go through. They have long and lean muscles as well as an excellent posture (which is a result of improvement in the natural alignment of the body because of the dance moves). Ballerinas are also highly flexible, as the dance movements encourage the muscles to flex in different ways.
Another thing you would notice about a ballet dancer is their confidence and elegance in general. Repeating exercises which stress on confidence and grace makes them start to adopt the same traits in their life outside of dance as well. The same exercises also require one to be mentally aware and have a more controlled motor coordination. This encourages the brain to become more active and improves a person's mental health. The dance moves require the dancer to focus on the music, rhythm, their arms and legs, and how the entire body responds to the beats.