king louis xiv allowed jean-baptiste lully to start the "académie royale de musique" in 1672. this was an organization that included opera, ballet, and music. the ballet company was part of the opera company. then louis xiv started the ballet school, called "académie royale de danse", in 1661. from 1671 until lully's death in 1687, the school was directed by the great dancing master pierre beauchamp, the man who set down the five positions of the feet.