In France, considered the cradle of ballet, new forms of performance were born in the 16th century on the initiative of Catherine de Medici.

The Duchess was a descendant of the Medici, a Florentine princely family. She was married to the King of France, Henry II of Valois. She introduced to the court there what is now considered the first ballet in the world - the Ballet comique de la Reyne (Comic Ballet of the Queen).