A Brief History of Ballet. bal·let n. 1.A classical dance form characterized by grace and precision of movement and by elaborate formal gestures, steps, and poses. 2.A theatrical presentation of group or solo dancing to a musical accompaniment, usually with costume and scenic effects, conveying a story or theme. 3.A musical composition written or used for this dance form. 4.A company or group that performs ballet. French, from Italian balletto, diminutive of ballo, dance, …showed first 75 words of 3292 total…

…showed last 75 words of 3292 total…of the traditional paste and burlap toe box. As the box becomes soft, it fails to provide sufficient support. A less obvious drawback to the traditional box is that it may soften in some areas but not others. This may cause the dancer to become improperly aligned when she stands en pointe. Improper alignment places stress on the ankle joint, and that stress increases enormously with the momentum of springing onto the full pointe position.