Ballet as a Cultural Influence

Ballet as a Cultural Influence
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BALLET AS A CULTURAL INFLUENCE
Ballet is an artistic movement usually performed by ballerinas dressed in specific costumes. The ballerinas use the performance to express their thoughts and feelings. Ballet dancing began in the 15th century and was initially performed in the Italian Renaissance court (Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, 2010). The performance was only for the noblemen and women who were trained ballet masters before they would participate in ceremonies held in the court. The paper will address how ballet influences people's daily lives and tradition as an aspect of culture, its value to people and society, and what has been created and experienced.
One of the outcomes of ballet as a cultural influence on people's lives as cultural aspect is that it plays a significant role in ensuring the continuity of cultural practices practiced in these communities. Everyone in society must learn how to follow and implement given instructions. Training young children on how to dance ballet enables them to follow and understand instructions in their daily lives. After one has become an expert in ballet dance, they were required to practice the dance and begin to teach others. The process would repeat itself severally as time progresses until the culture becomes successful (Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, 2010). Ballet, therefore, helped cement the culture and ensure cultural continuity in society as required by traditions that culture should be passed to the next generations.
Ballet also created a culture of togetherness. Ballets were usually played during celebrations in the court. The celebrations were vital as they helped to keep the people connected, thus enhancing the support system within the society. This is because people tend to develop a feeling of togetherness when they share a good time. Ballets were also interesting to watch during these celebrations. Coming together to watch such a performance builds on the social relations within society.
Ballet also had significant impacts on women's lives. Ballet helped to give women some social status. For example, in England, women emerged as the main dancers and would use the art as an escape to be away from their overbearing husbands. The women were looking for an engagement to keep them away from their husbands for a while. Secondly, the ballet also provided these women with lower birth some form of social status. As seen in Hilaire-Germaine-Edgar Degas's portrait, evidence shows that these women used ballet to suppor...