Ballet was born in the late 15th century royal courts of Italy. It later flourished in France, Denmark and Russia, with Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet being one of the most famous ballet groups in the world.
For centuries, classical painters like Edgar Degas have painted the ballerina with all her grace and strength. Mikhail Baryshnikov, Margot Fonteyn, and Gelsey Kirkland are among the host of professional ballet idols who have graced the cover of TIME Magazine. Check out the hundreds of vintage magazine covers featuring everyone and everything from Ballet to The World According to Peanuts.
