Many people attribute the beginnings of ballet to the art form of Commedia dell'Arte. Although ballet has its roots associated with the comic art form, several unique elements of the Commedia dell'Arte have influenced ballet artists, dancers, and choreographers well after the death of the Commedia dell'Arte performance. The Commedia dell'Arte was not only important for the creation of ballet, but also for the inspiration of many ballets and choreographic works throughout history. Commedia dell'Arte was an Italian theatrical art form that developed in the 16th century and lasted in its original form until the 18th century (Encyclopedia Britannica). It was performed by a troupe of actors who traveled across Europe and performed improvisations within a set framework of familiar plots or based on standard voices and characters for 200 years (humanracetheatre.org). The Commedia dell'Arte dates back to 1545, with a troupe called Il Gelosi, commissioned by Francesco Andreini and his wife Isabella in Padua, Italy (Encyclopædia Britannica). Subsequently, numerous companies arose, to which some of the greatest actors of the Commedia Del'Arte belonged. The troupes consisted of ten to fifteen actors, each of whom had unique roles and wore elaborate masks depicting who played which role (humanracetheatre.org). Although it is known that Commedia dell'Arte originated in Italy and was a highlight of Italian society, it also became very popular in Parisian society. It was founded as Comedie-Italienne in France in 1653 and remained a popular art form in French courts until Louis XIV banned Italian troupes in 1697 (Encyclopædia Britannica). The plots followed a simple structure; old men, who were typically elderly fathers/guardians, kept two young lovers apart, and ser...... middle of paper ...... influential in many different art forms, including ballet. The Commedia dell'Arte was a means for artists, dancers, and choreographers to exemplify meaning and emotion through the beloved and iconized characters and framework plots born of the Commedia dell'Arte. Ballet adopted its pantomime mechanisms from the mime associated with the Commedia dell'Arte, and pantomime is still used in ballet today. Several unique elements of the Commedia dell'Arte have influenced ballet artists, dancers, and choreographers even after the death of the Commedia dell'Arte performance. Diaghilev was very influential in bringing back the themes of Commedia dell'Arte, which catalyzed the inspiration of many choreographers to produce ballets with these themes. The Commedia dell'Arte was essential to the creation of ballet and has had influence in the creation of many ballets and theatrical works of art..