Ballet d'Action

Ballet d'Action was a theatrical dance style developed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries that emphasized expressive movement and storytelling through ballet. Unlike traditional dance focused on formal steps or ornamentation, it aimed to convey character, emotion, and narrative purely through expressive, naturalistic actions and gestures. Pioneered by choreographers like Jean-Georges Noverre, Ballet d'Action broke away from rigid conventions, prioritizing dramatization and psychological realism, laying the groundwork for modern ballet as a storytelling art form grounded in expressive, authentic movement.