The origins of ballet are well-known, but defining ballet is a little more difficult. Almost any definition that's not hopelessly generic and could cover almost anything will also exclude even well-known ballets. It may be that the best we can do with a definition amounts to not much more than Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart's comment about pornography, that although he couldn't define it, I know it when I see it.  Ballet is said to be a combination of choreography and art, scenic design, lighting, costume, graceful movements, and usually solemn music. It is an artistic dance like no other, that can be used to express different emotions or to tell a story.