ballet

Ballet is a very beautiful kind of dance. Dancers often stand on the tips of their toes, looking light as a feather, as if they are gently touching flower petals. They spin and jump with smooth (流畅的) and graceful (优雅的) movements.

Ballet has a very long history (历史). It first started in the royal (皇室的) courts of Italy. Back then, it was a show for the nobles (贵族) to enjoy. Later, ballet came to France and slowly became more popular. King Louis XIV of France loved ballet very much. He even danced on stage himself! During his time, the first ballet school was created

Dancing ballet takes a lot of hard work. Every day, dancers go to the practice room and do the same moves again and again. Their clothes often get soaked (湿透的) with sweat (汗水), just so their bodies can become softer and stronger. They wear special shoes to stand on their toes. It takes great courage (勇气) and strength (力量) to support their whole body like that. Every jump that looks easy is the result of falling many times and standing up again.

A ballet show has many important parts. Beautiful music tells the story and feelings (情感). Lovely stage decorations (舞台布景) and lights help create a magical (梦幻的) world. The dancers wear fancy (精致的；漂亮的) costumes (演出服) and special makeup (妆容). Every hand movement and every look in their eyes helps tell the story without words.

Some ballet shows are so famous (著名的) that people never forget them. In Swan Lake, a princess who is turned into a swan waits for true love. The Nutcracker is about a little girl who goes on an adventure (冒险) in a magical toy land on Christmas Eve. Sleeping Beauty is a fairy tale (童话故事) where a true love’s kiss wakes up a princess from a long sleep. Dancers use their bodies to tell these beautiful stories, like silent poems (诗篇) on stage.

Today, ballet is no longer only in old palaces. It has traveled all over the world. We can see it on big stages, in movies (电影), and even in cartoons (动画片). Artists (艺术家) from many countries keep bringing new ideas and energy (活力) into ballet. Ballet is like a clear river, flowing through time, taking in everything it sees, but always keeping its graceful rhythm (韵律).