Along with George Balanchine's great pieces and accomplishments, he also made a huge impact on the way ballet has shaped over the years. He is known for modernizing ballet and making it what it is today. Balanchine introduced speed and lightness to ballet. He wanted his dancers to make every step look effortless and controlled. Another new idea for him was the overhead lift. No one had ever used an overhead lift in a ballet before, so he brought this aspect to dance. Besides the new details that he brought to ballet, George Balanchine also emphasized that it s the dancing that matters and not the costumes or stage. He often had his dancers wear a simple black leotard for showcases so that everyone's attention would be on the movement. According