3 common Ballet myths…busted!
The world of Ballet can seem mysterious & even mythical to some. Beautiful, elegant dancers mysteriously balancing on their toes for entire shows & athletic male dancers galloping around the stage without seemingly taking a breath! Ballet takes an incredible amount of discipline, dedication, time & practice. Today, we’re busting some common Ballet myths:
Myth #1: Ballet is just for girls!
Usually, when we think of Ballet, we think of graceful & effortless, light as air ladies on their tippy toes. Although women make up a large proportion of dancers, especially in Ballet, it is certainly not a ‘girl exclusive’ realm. Male dancers are vitally important to every Ballet company. There is nothing quite like seeing a male dancer clearly with an incredible physique & display of strength & athleticism bounding around the stage. They make lifting one of the female dancers, look light as a feather & are never seemingly out of breath despite their numerous jumps & turns. The Pas de Deux in a Ballet is always breathtaking. The intricate relationship between the male & female dancer, perfectly balancing each other is a sight to behold. Male dancers are incredibly athletic, strong & bring an imposing presence to the stage. Although Ballet’s are silent & no words are spoken, none are really needed. We get everything we need from the opposing energies between male & female dancers & the communication of the movements from the stage! Ballet is most definitely not just for girls!
Myth #2: Ballet Dancing is Boring
Although Ballet classes usually follow a set structure & it cannot be denied that repetition is the absolute key to developing as a dancer, Ballet in our eyes is far from boring. The amount of steps, terminology, music, styles & repertoire out there is almost endless. Attending Ballet class is an incredible foundation for other dance styles & indeed can instill foundations for life. Discipline, commitment, taking pride in one’s work, developing balance & musicality can propel students into many paths for life. The list goes on!
Ballet is always evolving as new choreographers & composers work together to create new & innovative works of art. It can never really be boring, because it is never still & stagnant. Going to see a Ballet production for the first time, can be an absolutely thrilling experience. The costumes & sets alone are usually magnificent! There is a lot to keep your attention, listening to the music, watching the dancers do their miming moves, solos, Pas de Deux & full company dancer scenes. Not to mention the deep emotions that Ballet can portray & evoke within us. Nothing in a Ballet is obsolete. Everything has been meticulously choreographed & timed to portray an emotion or idea. This is a good reason in itself to go & see a Ballet production!
Myth #3: Ballet can be very daunting
Starting anything new is daunting. Ballet is daunting, only if you think it is daunting! The truth is, our teachers at Siegeris Dance ( & most teachers) are very well trained to welcome new students & to make them feel at ease in their first few classes. Especially if children start Ballet class young, the first few levels are learning through active & creative play. Props & exciting lesson themes are used alongside fun music to teach the children. This is then built upon & refined as the children progress through the levels. We find that even the most shy children break out of their shell & feel involved in no time at all. Ballet is fun, inspiring, great exercise & can challenge children in a positive way. We are well aware that not every single child is going to go onto be a professional dancer, but taking that first Ballet class can be a wonderful stepping stone for so many life paths.
We hope we’ve dispelled some common myths about Ballet. We would love to see your child at one of our classes & we offer a FREE trial! We have so many classes, times & locations to chose from, so it’s easy to find a class that fits in your schedule. Follow the link on our website to sign up now!