Ballet, a highly technical performance dance with its own vocabulary, originated in 15th-century Italian Renaissance courts before flourishing in France. Its development was significantly advanced under King Louis XIV, who founded the Académie Royale de Danse in 1661, eventually leading to the creation of the first professional company, the Paris Opera Ballet. During this period, foundational techniques like the five major foot positions were established by Pierre Beauchamp, and the first "ballerinas" appeared on stage by 1681.
Though its prominence in France declined after 1830, ballet continued to evolve in places like Russia, with Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes dramatically reviving global interest and ushering in the modern era before World War I. Today, a ballet can encompass both traditional classical performances with elaborate costumes and staging, and modern productions featuring simpler aesthetics. This influential art form has defined core techniques used across many other dance genres and continues to diversify into various stylistic subgenres worldwide.