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There is no doubt that we love beautiful photos of ballerinas, featuring graceful figures in pointes shoes and tutus, on stage or in a real life setting. Ballet is beautiful and it calls for stunning photographs. Ballet also requires a lot of practice and dedication.​

Formerly considered a bit old fashion, ballet is super trendy now and up and coming photographers shoot stunning ballerinas dancing in the street of Cuba or in front of walls covered with street art. It all started with Fame in the 80’s and now reality tv and entertainment shows are all over dance and ballet like Dance Moms and Strictly Ballet. Celebrities are in love with their ballet barre workout and Mary Helen Bowers helps you stay in shape with her Ballet Beautiful workout.​ ​If you’re not already at the barre, letting your inner ballerina grow, you should enroll yourself to a summer class now and here is why:

The little story of ballet started like this: Ballet originated in the 15th-16th century in Italy during the Renaissance period. Shortly later, it spread to France and in the 17th century, Louis XIV founded the Académie Royale de Musique or Paris Opera which also explains the strong influence of the French language in ballet terms. Prestigious ballet companies in Europe, America and Australia were created up to the 20th century.​ 

Who can do ballet?

Anyone can do ballet! That’s perfect! You can start as a child or as an adult, all you need is to love ballet and be dedicated. Ballet is accessible to everyone ready to learn all the formal steps and gestures, who has strength, energy and a creative mind.

Why ballet is good for you?

Dancing is great for the body and the mind. It’s a fun way to exercise, develop your creativity and improve your flexibility. Ballet training will make your body stronger and your natural posture more elegant. Values you’ll learn in ballet class will do wonders for your work ethic and you’ll grow into a resilient and passionate adult.

How to become a Principal Dancer?

Start young and never stop working! Ballerinas join a class early and retire early too. It takes around 8-10 years of training to become professional so it will be best to start ballet by the age of 7. Young students train once or twice a week with ballet technique classes. Around the age of 14, dancers who will join a professional school, will significantly intensify their training with about 10-15 classes a week. At the age of 17 or 18 years old, they will then audition to join a company. They can audition for several companies around the world so they have the chance to find the one where they can bloom. A dancer's career usually last until their 30’s or more sometimes depending on the dancer. Whether you’re a Corps de Ballet, a soloist of Principal Dancer, you’ll most likely get to travel often to do what you love the most everyday: dance!

What’s a professional dancer’s life like?

Ballet is your passion and it’s your job. Congratulations you managed have the best of both worlds! No “sitting behind a desk” job for you. Work involves 5-8 hours of dancing everyday: 1 to 2 hours of class to warm up and work on your technique, then 4 to 6 hours to rehearse your current or next performance and sometimes 1 or 2 evening performances. Like anybody, you’ll have a day or two of time off to take care of your personal tasks. Up for the job?

How to be on pointe shoes?

Beautiful pink satin ballet shoes… We’re like you, we love them! There’s no rule on when you will have your first pair of pointe shoes. You will have to be over 10 years old at least but whatever your age, you will be ready to be on pointe when your muscles, especially your ankles, will be strong enough for it and you will have a good technique. You should never try to get on pointe on our own without the approval of your teacher. You could hurt yourself and get bad habits that will ruin your technique for the future. Being on pointes requires that your body is ready for it. You might think it is and end up with a twisted or broken ankle that will compromise your future in ballet.

There are tricks and tips on how to make your pointe shoes last longer but how often you will replace them depends on how much you dance in them. Professional dancers can go through a pair for a single performance. On average pointe shoes last 10-20 hours which can easily cover a day in a professional dancer’s life when they have a performance in the evening, including class, rehearsals and one or two performances in a row that same evening. 

We convinced you? Ballet is for you? We have some tips!

1. Find a school near you and ask around get recommendations on which one would be the best school for you
2. Get ready for class! Get the outfit and the accessories and don’t forget to pack everything you need in your dance bag 
3. Do your homework. Improve your technique at home whenever you can with a ballet barre

You’d like to learn more about ballet and ask us questions? Leave a comment!