In 1661, King Louis XIV of France founded the Académie Royale de Danse, the world's first formal institution for dance. This establishment aimed to codify dance rules and train professional dancers, effectively laying the groundwork for classical ballet. Louis XIV's passion for dance and his patronage of the arts significantly influenced the development of dance as a respected art form, shaping the cultural landscape of France and beyond.

This structural institutionalization institutionalized the court masque and ballet de cour, fostering an elite environment where major dramatists like Molière and court poets collaborated to weave poetry directly into choreographic spectacle. This blend of art forms enriched the cultural landscape of the time, influencing the development of poetic forms.