Tastes of Culture

1. Stretching is the major warm-up exercise in ballet. It’s how every ballet dancer in the world starts their dance session. Stretching will help you develop good posture and build your strength and it’s of vital importance if you hope to achieve any level of ballet dancing skill. Ballet looks very graceful but it puts a lot of stress on your joints, the stretching exercises help your body warm up ready for this stress so that you are less likely to overstrain any muscles.

2. All ballet dance steps have a name that you will need to learn. The names are mostly in French but if you repeat each step’s name as you exercise you’ll soon learn them. One way of getting a head start on this is to purchase a ballet dictionary, or print a ballet term glossary off the Internet. Learn each step carefully, making sure that you are following your dance instructor’s instructions. When first starting your class should go at a slower pace so that you get a chance to learn how to do each step properly, but as you become more experienced the pace will get quicker.

3. Ballet shoes are the most important piece of your ballet outfit. If they don’t have the shoes that you want in your size, don’t be tempted to get smaller or larger ones. Instead, choose another style! If you want to train to be a ballet dancer you must look after your feet, and that means ensuring you always wear the right size shoe.

4. Ballet lessons always start with barre work. This is intended to build up your flexibility, your posture and of course your balance. You might find it boring but remember that even the most famous ballerina in the world will start her daily dance session at the barre doing very much the same exercises that you are doing.

5. Find out what the ballet school’s dress code is before you go shopping! Ballet classes are notorious for having strict rules they expect to be followed and they may well require a certain type of ballet clothing to be worn by all students regardless of ability. You may be allowed to wear a tutu, or your ballet school may have a rule that says tutus should only be worn for performances. Leotards, tights and shoes are standard, but colors of these will vary so it’s best to check in advance. There may also be a requirement to have hair pinned up so if you have long hair you should also ask about that before your first class.

6. Ballet dance style requires certain things from your body and if you take different types of dance class you could find that you aren’t able to separate out the various poses and movements. Ballet beginners should at least have some basic ballet steps and posture requirements perfect before they participate in less formal dance styles.

7. A ballet dance class is a formal environment. You should approach your ballet teacher with respect and carry out instructions without question. Failure to follow this tradition may mean you are asked to leave the class. Remember always, the ballet instructor’s word is final.