History of ballet
Ballet originated in the Renaissance court as an outgrowth of court pageantry in Italy, where aristocratic weddings were lavish celebrations. Tutus, ballet slippers and pointe work were not yet used. The choreography was adapted from court dance steps. Performers dressed in fashions of the times. For women that meant formal gowns that covered their legs to the ankle. Early ballet was participatory, with the audience joining the dance towards the end.
French ballet
Beauchamps was a ballet-master who was deeply involved with the creation of courtly ballets in the 1650s and 1660s. However, Beauchamps began his career as the personal teacher to Louis XIV. Beauchamps is also credited with coming up with the five fundamental foot positions from which all balletic movements move through. Beauchamps techniques were taught throughout France in secondary schools as well as by private teachers. Contemporary dancers would astonish Beauchamps at their ability to have 180-degree turnout. Beauchamps dancers wore high-heeled shoes and bulky costumes which made turnout difficult and slight. One of the first things that Lully and Beauchamps worked together on was "Les Fêtes de l’Amour et de Bacchus", which they called "opéra-ballet". The "opéra-ballet" is a form of lyric theatre in which singing and dancing were presented as equal partners in lavish and spectacular stagings. The "Les Fêtes de l’Amour et de Bacchus", one of their first and most famous collaborations, consisted of excerpts from court ballets linked by new "entrées" stages by Beauchamps. Customarily, King Louis and courtiers danced in the court ballets; however, in this new form of entertainment, the "opéra-ballet", all of the dancers were professionals. Beauchamps not only collaborated with Lully, but he also had the great privilege to partner with Molière during his lifetime.