Details: Classical Ballet is an encompassing art form with movements ranging from turns, to slow dramatic and purposeful positioning, to quick and complex steps, jumps and leaps. Techniques have their histories in French, Russian, Italian and British formal performance art, significantly launched in the French court of King Louis XIV when he established the Academie Royale de la Danse. Though differing techniques have slight variations in placement and vocabulary, they all share a focus on technical placement, posture, fluidity and momentum. Ballet today continues to be an internationally cherished performance art. It has also become a training ground for athletes and other dancers who wish to challenge themselves and improve their core strength and poise.