What's NOT REQUIRED of Ballet Amateurs
If you've spent any time online, looking for information about ballet classes and ballet technique, you'll have seen lots of pictures and videos of young, petit, thin, super toned, super flexible people (mostly women), in remarkable poses, doing remarkable exercises and combinations. They look something like this...
And you may have thought to yourself, "I can't do ballet, because I can't do what they're doing."
Well, guess what... if ballet will bring you happiness and joy, or if it is just something you're curious about, then YOU CAN and absolutely SHOULD do it!
Professional dancers, and those aspiring to become professional dancers, work every day to cultivate some pretty extraordinary abilities. They push themselves to be super flexible, strong and fit, because the increasing wow-factor demands of their profession require it.
But, as a ballet amateur, there is only one thing that is required of you: to enjoy yourself and to love what you're doing. After all, the word "amateur" derives from the Latin amātor (lover), and amāre (to love.)
You LOVE ballet! So, before you tell yourself that there's no way you could it, consider this list of things that are NOT REQUIRED for you to participate in a ballet class:
- Perfect Turnout: The amount of natural turn-out in your legs much depends on the structure of your hip joints -- it's just how you were born. As a ballet amateur, you may work on increasing your turnout somewhat, but it can harm your knees, ankles and feet to force them into more turnout than is natural for your body. It is OK to be content with whatever amount of turnout you have, and work safely within that range.
- Extreme Flexibility: It is certainly impressive to fold your body in half, or lift your leg up near your ear, or do the splits, or bend over backwards. But ballet can be executed just as beautifully within a normal range of flexibility. By forcing extreme flexibility, you run the risk of tearing soft tissues and weakening your muscles. A good teacher will have you focus on quality over quantity when it comes to flexibility. It is better to execute beautiful, controlled movements than to contort and strain your body toward achieving something more extreme.
- A "Ballet Physique:" It wasn't true of ballet dancers in the 1800s and early-to-mid 1900s, but more recent generations have trended toward a culture of alarmingly unnatural thinness. Body dysmorphism and eating disorders are a sad result. But, it doesn't have to be this way. People of all shapes and sizes can enjoy ballet; you don't need to be thin or petit. Love yourself the way you are and use ballet as a healthy way to engage your mind and body together in movement and self-expression.
- Turning: Pirouettes, fouettes, and chaine turns are part of the ballet repertoire, and are included in some ballet class combinations. But they can be challenging and difficult, and are not for everyone. Those with vestibular problems or balance/coordination challenges may find turns very disorienting. If fear of turning is keeping you from trying ballet, know this: you don't have to do them! A good ballet teacher will understand if you opt to skip turning combinations, and will give you an optional movement to do instead.
- Perfect Feet: Like turnout, the shape and configuration of your feet is largely genetic. What you're born with is what you have to work with. Just because your feet are "flat" or because you don't have high arches, doesn't mean you can't do ballet. Always be kind to your feet and don't force them into over-arched or "winged" positions, in pursuit of the "perfect ballet foot." Those puppies will be carrying you around for your whole life! Safe and sensible ballet exercises will help strengthen your feet and ankles, and give you better "mileage" as you age.
- Good Balance: In the "The Sleeping Beauty" Rose Adage, Princess Aurora performs a series of extraordinary balances. She stands on pointe in arabesque derrière, as her four suitors take her hand and release it, each in turn. This kind of balance is amazing, but not required for your amateur pursuit of ballet. A good portion of your ballet class will be done holding onto a barre, with intermittent opportunities to test and work on your balance, which will improve with time and practice. In center combinations requiring you to balance, it is OK to minimize or skip balance movements if you feel "off." Everybody has those kind of days!
- Going on Pointe: There is a lot of focus and attention given to "getting up on pointe" in ballet culture. Dancing on the very tips of your toes looks amazing, but it is difficulty and requires a lot of training, strength and discipline. Even for professionals, dancing en pointe can be fraught with injury and discomfort -- our bodies just weren't designed to do that. As an amateur, it is perfectly acceptable to NEVER go up on pointe. Sticking with soft ballet slippers can be just as rewarding, and will keep your feet healthier in the long run.
- Suffering and Enduring Pain or Humiliation: The professional ballet world is elite and competitive, with an unfortunate culture that seems to promote "suffering for your art," both physically and mentally. As a ballet amateur, your class should make you feel physically rejuvenated and mentally positive. You should feel nurtured and encouraged by your teacher and your fellow students. Always put your physical and mental health first; skip or modify any movements that cause you pain or discomfort. Give yourself permission to try and fail, and don't beat yourself up for not getting things perfect. Keep in mind that, if you feel denigrated or humiliated after class, it is time to find a better class.