Final answer:
France became the forerunner in the development of ballet, particularly during the era of Louis XIV with the foundation of the Académie Royale de Danse. French refinement of ballet technique and courtly performances established ballet as a prominent art form. Artists like Edgar Degas later celebrated this through their works, encapsulating ballet's cultural importance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The country that became the forerunner as the builders of ballet is France. This art form was codified and flourished during the reign of Louis XIV, who was himself an avid dancer and the founder of the Académie Royale de Danse in 1661. This academy was crucial in establishing ballet as a serious art form and in developing the technique that serves as the foundation of ballet today. French ballet gained prominence, and it is during this period that ballet evolved from court entertainment into professional performances.
While artists like Edgar Degas, a noteworthy French artist born into wealth, never directly contributed to the building of ballet, his iconic works like The Ballet Class captured the essence and the beauty of ballet dancers, cementing the cultural importance of ballet in society. Degas' focus on the human form and movement in pieces such as Dancer Taking a Bow shows his fascination with the art of ballet, supporting its significance as a worthy subject for high art.