Pierre Beauchamp was a French ballet dancer and choreographer, known for his significant contributions to the development of ballet in the 17th century. He served as the ballet master for Louis XIV, the King of France, and played a crucial role in formalizing ballet techniques and terminology. Beauchamp is credited with creating the five basic positions of the feet in ballet, which are still taught today. His work laid the foundation for the evolution of classical ballet, influencing future generations of dancers and choreographers, including Marius Petipa and George Balanchine.