Why ballet is a royal hobby?
History of ballet and
the royals as influencers
During the Italian Renaissance and in the fifteenth century, Ballet, a certain type
of dance was founded. Later it spread its wings to France and Russia.
Ballet started in the Italian Renaissance courts of the fifteenth and the sixteenth
centuries.
When Catherine de'Medici became Queen of France, Ballet became popular.
However it reached its height under the reign of King Louis XIV of France.
King Louis XIV of France founded the Royal Dance Academy (Académie
Royale de Danse) in 1661.
After 1830, ballet started to decline in France, but it continued to develop in
Europe. It became popular in Denmark, Italy and Russia.
👉 Did you know that Tsar Nicholas II of Russia had a mistress (before his marriage).
It was the prima Polish ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska.
She would have had a relationship with at least two Grand Dukes from Russia:
- Grand Duke Sergei Mikhailovich of Russia (died on 18 July 1918) ;
- Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia (died on 30 October 1956). She
would marry him in 1921.
On twitter @EmpressofHab mentioned that historian Martina Winklerhofer wrote
that the ballet school was used to find mistresses for Russian Grand Dukes ...
In 1931 The Royal Ballet was founded in London by Dame Ninette de Valois.
It became one of the foremost ballet companies. The Royal Ballet associated
the Royal Ballet School in London.
Margot Fonteyn, who trained at the Royal Ballet School and the Royal Ballet
was appointed Prima ballerina assoluta by Queen Elizabeth II.
Royals and ballet
United Kingdom
It wasn't a secret at all that the beautiful and sweet Diana, Princess of Wales
loved to dance and especially ballet. She visited the Royal Ballet and the
School on several occasions inter alia on 6 December 1995.
On 23 December 1985, Diana the Princess of Wales even gave a surprise
performance at the Royal Opera House. It was published on tabloids in 1995.
It also is no secret that the dance genes of Diana, Princess of Wales
continue in her grandchildren. Princess Charlotte, the daughter of the Duke
and Duchess of Cambridge also attends a ballet school.
Monaco
In Monaco, dance and Ballet in particularly also is a real tradition. The
country has the Academie Danse Princess Grace (founded in 1975). It also
has a classical ballet company called Les Ballets de Monte Carlo. This was
founded in 1985 by the Princess of Hanover.
The Netherlands
Former Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands' love for music started already
early. As little princess she attended a ballet school near Baarn.
Later as princess and as Queen of The Netherlands, Beatrix attended many
performances of the National Ballet alone or together with Princess Margriet,
Prince Claus, King Willem Alexander and Queen Máxima. It is no secret that
the children of King Willem Alexander and Queen Máxima loved ballet too.
Belgium
Queen Mathilde of Belgium attended the 2017-2018 graduation
gala of the Royal Ballet School of Antwerp.
When Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium became 18 years old on
25 October 2019 a ballet performance took place at the royal palace
because Princess Elisabeth really likes it. More about this special event
on this link.
Sweden
Swedish ballerina Anneli Alhanko.
a beautiful dance style. I hope the tradition will continue and that Ballet
The pictures of the amazing pink pointes and the ballet shop are provided by
the lovely owner of the beautiful site The Lady and The Rose. You can check
this site on this link.
The pictures of the royals are from Wikipedia
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