Question: What Was Court Ballet?
Answer: Ballet evolved from social court dances in Italy and France. Wealthy people, including royalty, would try to outdo each other by having the most elaborate courts. Court dances were derived from various steps and rhythms of folk dances, but they were much more elaborate. They often featured elaborate scenery and beautiful costumes, plus a series of processions, poetry reading, music, and of course, dancing. These social dances soon evolved into a choreographic form, the ballet de cour.
Eventually, court dances moved to the stage, bringing a change in choreography, as the dancers were then seen from only one direction instead of three. Turnout began to gain more and more importance. Costumes were elaborate, though very restrictive. Port de bras evolved in order to show off the beauty of the costumes - dancers found that a slight turn of the body could spotlight certain details of their costumes.
