Ballet began in royal courts in the early 1600s, and early forms of this elegant and sophisticated art involved long skirts and wooden clogs. Dancing ballet is extremely popular throughout the world, and studying ballet can help develop strong bodies, spatial and temporal awareness, and improve coordination. People who study ballet also retain flexibility throughout their adult lives, making this technique the basis of training for all types of dance. While dancing ballet takes dedication and requires serious training, you can learn the basics to prepare yourself for further study. Learn to get ready for practice, the basic positions, and some of the first techniques you're likely to encounter in ballet.