Ballet is an art and it is different from other dance forms. You may take ballet lessons or you probably have seen ballet on television or in the movies. Whatever your association with ballet, it is a graceful and beautiful kind of dancing .The letter “t” on the word “ballet” is silent, so we pronounce it as “ballay.”

Ballet is a specific dance form and technique. Works of dance choreographed using this technique are called ballets, and may include dance, music, acting and mime.

Ballet was first performed in Italy in the early 1600’s. The first ballet school was opened in France in 1661. It is one form of dance that developed in the courts of Renaissance Italy. It was brought to France at the time of Catherine de Medici and became a great favorite with King Louis XIV who cast himself in the leading roles of elaborately costumed court spectaculars. Only men were allowed to dance. Slowly things changed and Women first danced the ballet in 1681.

Throughout the beginning years, until 1789, the performers not only danced, but also sang songs and recited poems. The dance steps taught so long ago in France are still used today. Most steps still have their original French names.

Beauchamps, a French ballet teacher created the basic five ballet positions in the 1600’s. These arm and leg positions helped the dancers to balance while still looking graceful. Most ballet steps and combinations begin with one of the basic positions.

Ballet has since spread to all the corners of the world reaching new heights of perfection in Russia and now worldwide. You can view professional ballet companies on every continent. New York has been called the Dance Capital of the World.

The ballet dancers you see on movies, television or at the ballet are usually professionals. The lady dancers, or “ballerinas,” dance on their toes. This is called dancing “en pointe.” A dancer is usually at least 12 years old before she begins to dance en pointe. She then wears “toe shoes,” Lambs wool is put into the toes of the shoes to cushion the ballerina’s toes. Sometimes a foam pad is also worn on the toes. These shoes are stiff-toed slippers with ribbons that tie around the feet and ankles.

Long ago ballet dancers used to wear ankle-length dresses. But now things have changed and dancers dress more elegantly. For performances, the ballerinas wear “tutus,” which are short, full skirts, often made of netting or satin material. Sometimes, they wear a slightly longer skirt, which flows gracefully as the ballerinas dance.
Ballerinas traditionally wear their hair in a bun, pinned high on the head. All ballet dancers wear “tights” on their legs. They are like stockings and cover the entire leg.

Male dancers, simply called “ballet dancers,” always dance in soft-soled shoes. They do not dance en pointe. The men must be in good shape to be able to lift the ballerinas into the air.

Jeffrey Meier of Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.Jam727.com offers Information articles. For more detailed articles about Ballet please visit http://www.jam727.com/ballet.htm

Share This

Although every teacher is different, the goals of the introductory pointe class are similar no matter where you dance. These goals include strengthening the feet and ankles, breaking in the pointe shoes, and learning proper execution of skills while wearing pointe shoes.

To strengthen the feet, your teacher may instruct in a variety of methods including demi-pointe work, exercises for the feet and ankles, and basic releves at the barre. Instruction may also be given for additional work that can be done outside of class to help you gain strength and skill.

Breaking in pointe shoes is simply the wording used to describe taking the shoe from its initial factory condition to where it is conformed to the shape of your foot. This may include some work with your shoe in hand softening hard spots and bending the shank. I highly suggest waiting for a teacher’s instruction before bending, softening, or attempting to break in the shoes. Doing so on your own may permanently damage or improperly break in the shoes.

In addition to manually softening the shoes, your feet will serve as your greatest break in tool. Simply doing releves will do much to help the shoes mould to your feet. Again, be careful about doing too much outside of your teacher’s watchful eye. Doing steps incorrectly in pointe shoes may cause the shoes to break in improperly or lead to an injury.

Lastly, a basic pointe class will include barre work and eventually center work doing the steps you already know. Plies, releves, tendus, jetes, and other basic technical steps will help you learn placement, understand positioning, and gain strength as you develop your pointe skills.

In an introductory pointe class, you may find yourself spending only a few minutes actually dancing in the shoes. Do not be alarmed. It takes dedication and time over the course of many months and years to develop a strong pointe technique. You will gain strength, increase grace, and expand your dancing horizons as you begin pointe. There will be blisters, frustration, and pain, but the beauty of the dance will always make it worthwhile!

Jenny Pemberton is a dance teacher and owner of Dance to You, Inc. an online dancewear discount retail shop. She has a passion for the arts and enjoys passing along her love of dance to future generations.

Share This