Romantic Ballet
Also known as: Ballet blanc
History & Cultural Context
Romantic ballet flourished c.1830–1850 as part of the broader Romantic movement, turning to themes of the supernatural, the exotic, and unattainable love. It established pointe work and the long white tulle skirt, foregrounded the ballerina, and produced enduring works—La Sylphide (1832), Giselle (1841), and the later Coppelia (1870)—with star ballerinas such as Marie Taglioni and Fanny Elssler. It marks ballet's full transition into a theatrical art organized around expressive, ethereal female dancing.
Cultural Significance
The 'white act' (ballet blanc) of corps de ballet in white established an image of ballet that persists in the popular imagination.
Characteristic Movement & Technique
Introduction of pointe work, lightness and elevation, and the floating quality of the ballet blanc.
Signature Figures
- Marie Taglioni
- Fanny Elssler
- August Bournonville
- Jules Perrot
Notable Codifiers
- August Bournonville
Track Your Romantic Ballet Progress
Practice Romantic Ballet figures between lessons with Figure Focus — step-by-step breakdowns, floor diagrams, and progress tracking. Free to use.
Sources & Further Reading
Cultural & Historical Context
Romantic Ballet emerged from France / Western Europe during the 1830s—1850s. Understanding the cultural roots, musical traditions, and social circumstances of this era enriches appreciation for the dance's characteristics and significance.
Formative Influences
Codifiers & Standardizers:
August Bournonville
Signature Movement Vocabulary:
Marie Taglioni, Fanny Elssler, August Bournonville, Jules Perrot
Primary Source Documents
The Library of Dance contains public-domain primary sources for dance history. Copyrighted modern syllabi are indexed with purchase links to their respective copyright owners. Search by dance name or codifier to discover primary source documents.
Last reviewed: June 2026 — This dance profile synthesizes historical research, cultural documentation, and contemporary practice knowledge to provide authoritative context.
More in Ballet
Ballet de Cour (Court Ballet)
The aristocratic court spectacle from which ballet grew, danced by nobles (including Louis XIV) and codified into the five positions and turnout under Beauchamp at the Académie Royale de Danse (1661).
Classical Ballet
The full-evening story-ballet style perfected by Marius Petipa in Imperial Russia—Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker—that defines the core ballet repertory and codified virtuoso classical technique.
Neoclassical Ballet
The 20th-century style—pioneered by George Balanchine with Apollo (1928)—that retained classical technique while stripping narrative and scenery for speed, line, extension, and pure response to music.
Contemporary Ballet
The late-20th-century-onward fusion of classical ballet technique with modern and contemporary dance, associated with choreographers such as William Forsythe and Jiří Kylián.