Confidence, good posture, balance, self-discipline, concentration, flexibility, endurance, speed, strength and power. Would you believe there’s a single activity that promotes all these things at the same time?! Well, believe it or not, there is - ballet!
There are two types of classic ballet, which is an art form that tells stories through characters in costume. Pointe is one type, where dancers wear a special type of shoe so that they can move on the tips of their toes. Since Pointe is really advanced, we’ll just be focusing on demi-ballet. In this type, dancers dance on the balls of their feet.
There’s a whole lot to remember when dancing ballet – things like how important it is to find the right studio. Because when you’re learning the basics, it’s important to make sure you learn correctly!
There are five basic positions for ballet. All classic dance steps start or end in one of these five positions:
First Position—The heels are together, legs stretched straight. Turn your toes outward to form a straight line. You arms should form a curve raised right above your waist. Your hands should be between your waist and the level of your chest.
Second Position—Separate your feet to the side about 1 ½ feet apart. Your feet should be well turned out. Open your arms, rounding them slightly. Your elbows should be slightly lower than your shoulders.
Third Position—Put the heel of your right foot against the middle of your left foot. Bring your right arm up so that a semicircle forms above your head. Your left arm should remain in the second position.
Forth Position—Slide your right foot forward so that it is parallel to your left foot with about 12 inches in between. Place your right arm overhead in a vertical position. Your left arm should be in the first position.
Fifth Position—Place your right foot close up in front of your left foot. The toes of your left foot should touch the heel of your right foot. Both arms should be overhead and form a round shape. There is a small space between hands.
In addition to the dancing done with their legs and feet, dancers use their hands and arms to express themselves. Showing expression through the hands and arms is always very important, especially since it can be difficult to see a dancer’s face from a distance.
But the most important thing to remember - always respect the instructor!
Ancient man conveyed his thoughts, wishes, and emotions through actions, just as we do in modern ballets. In the Americas, Australia and Africa, aboriginal people danced both for spiritual reasons and for entertainment. Their dances continue to influence dance today.
Ballet was a man’s game for many years, and men performed both male and female roles. Even when women were included, they weren’t able to do some of the things men could, mainly because of their clothes. Men wore tights and were able to move freely, but women had to wear heavy wigs, huge headdresses, full skirts, high-heeled shoes and extra tight corsets that restricted breathing and bending. In addition to wearing uncomfortable clothing, women had to overcome society’s disapproval of female performers as ballet moved from the ballroom to the stage.
Classical ballet came to America in the mid-1900s thanks to
George Balanchine who founded the School of American Ballet
in 1934, and later the New York City Ballet.