Skip to main content

What’s the point(e) of ballet? - Ming Luke

337,715 Views

5,579 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

A baby cursed at birth. A fierce battle of good and evil. A true love awoken with a kiss. Since premiering in 1890, “The Sleeping Beauty” has become one of the most frequently staged ballets in history. So what makes this piece so beloved? And what exactly does ballet bring to this— or any other— story? Ming Luke shares what makes ballet the perfect medium for stories old and new.

Working with the orchestra, ballerinas perform combinations of gestures to convey which elements of a story?

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Director Mateus Moretto
  • Educator Ming Luke
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Storyboard Artist Mateus Moretto, Luciano do Amaral
  • Animator Luciano do Amaral
  • Art Director Mateus Moretto
  • Music Jarrett Farkas
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Associate Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma
  • Ballet Consultant Sasha de Sola
  • Special Thanks Jenny Hunt

More from Behind the Curtain