'balletomania' originates from French and Greek, specifically the French word 'ballet' and the Greek word 'mania', where 'ballet' (via Italian 'balletto') referred to the dance form (literally 'little dance') and 'mania' meant 'madness' or 'frenzy'.

'balletomania' changed from French 'balletomanie' (used to describe a craze for ballet) and eventually became the modern English word 'balletomania'.

Initially, it meant 'an extreme craze or mania for ballet', and over time it has retained that basic meaning as a term for intense enthusiasm for ballet.