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Classical ballet is a formal, highly technical style of dance that developed in European royal courts, particularly in France and Russia, from the 16th through 19th centuries. It's built around a codified vocabulary of steps and positions—things like the five basic foot positions, turnout (rotating the legs outward from the hips), pointe work (dancing on the tips of the toes in specialized shoes), and movements like pirouettes, arabesques, and jetés.

Technique and structure
Classical ballet emphasizes precision, symmetry, and control. Movements are meant to look effortless and graceful even though they require enormous strength and flexibility. Training follows established methods (Vaganova, Cecchetti, Balanchine, and others), each with its own approach to teaching the same core vocabulary.

Storytelling and staging
Many classical ballets tell a narrative story, often full-length works with acts, like Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Giselle, or Sleeping Beauty. These typically combine dance with orchestral music (often specifically composed for the ballet, as with Tchaikovsky's scores), elaborate costumes, and traditional set designs.

Hierarchy and formality
Classical ballet companies traditionally have a defined hierarchy of dancers, from corps de ballet up through soloists and principal dancers. There's also a formal system of partnering (pas de deux) where male and female dancers perform choreographed sequences together, including lifts.

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