Did you know that you can use to prepare their dancers hairdryer pointe shoes? And if you are a principal dancer shoes can last half a performance?
Ballet is often described as a graceful and delicate art form. Feminine stereotypes as it is sometimes called simple. But much more often misunderstood issue than meets the eye in the ballet world. In this article, ballet dancers and discover ten amazing facts about their craft.
10. Initially, ballet was danced by men
Italian courts in art began in the 15th century. When Catherine de Medicis, one of the patrons of the ballet, married the French king Henry II. France has become the centerpiece of its development. A few centuries ago, the tasks normally performed by police chiefs and professional dancers performed important roles. What's more, the men were more artists. The first female principal dancer did not appear until 1681, and only forty years after the men's techniques for women competitors. Today, though, more often in men than ballet is considered women's domain, still girl and company directors.
9. Ballet dancers train harder than most professional athletes
It takes ten years to train a professional dancer, and will be spending more than twenty hours a week taking classes in those years. Study ballet dancers, but, modern and character dance classes to learn to partner, and the famous ballet called short extracts must not only perform variations. And it's not just the amount of hours that are required. The NFL football player Steve McLendon, ballet is the hardest part of his training regimen. Despite McLendon big muscles, their dance teacher pushes her to get some of the power and grace of the art. Belle makes a rarely used muscles that are otherwise rare combination of aerobic and anaerobic exercise class offers a full body workout in.
8. Most professionals maintain a healthy diet
A dancer is often also referred to the ideal body type long, thin legs, narrow hips and a short torso with a thin neck. This prompted a number of encouraging young dancers to focus on their weight to an unhealthy degree. However, contrary to popular belief, there are not many dancers anorexic. Although aspiring dancers often have an unhealthy relationship with food and may suffer from some disorder, it does not apply to most professionals. Healthy-looking dancers in recent years companies have been trying to employ. Royal Danish Ballet, for one, seems to speak in an attempt to save his career, unhealthy eating habits exhibited employees. In fact, employ dancers to keep their bodies in good condition with many professional physical therapists with professional troupes nutrition.
7. Being allowed to wear pointe shoes is a rite of passage
The major milestones of an aspiring ballerina 'is Anne's Point'. Graceful act out on their toes in satin shoes inspired many young girls to start ballet. But the point is not as harmless as it seems. When introduced soon, a student may risk serious injury. In general, the bones are malleable before having at least ten or eleven years old, and decided to wait now many experienced teachers. In addition, it must be strong enough to use one technique safely shoes. The actual number will vary, but the most professional teachers agree that it is necessary for two or more years of training several times a week.
6. New pointe shoes have to be broken in
New pointe shoes to dance in very difficult and dangerous. Over the years, many to break each dancer how to better adapt their shoes to fit their feet, or, like figure out during training. Some of these measures are very rare. As the internal parts - - for example, some dancers to their low slip scrape the bottom of the blast boots to the ground to reduce the sound on stage, cut a section of the shank malleable and more to make, or shellac harden their application. A brand with a hairdryer hard refrigerators, shoes melt and stick to it, then use it to shield her feet require dancer.
5. Some shoes only last one hour
Unlike the broad way to break in, professional dancers' shoes last for a very short time. One season, which usually lasts for only a few months, can go through 120 pairs of shoes a dancer. Since more than one pair of pointe shoes from $ 100 to 60, are too expensive, it is one of the major costs of professional companies. Company, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, approximately $ 100 000 per year in women alone reports spending on dancing shoes. Some of the principal dancers, have been known to use several pairs in a performance if they are lead role in the ballet such as Swan Lake or Sleeping Beauty, especially dance.
4. The male equivalent of a ballerina is a Danseur
Although much emphasis is put on in classical ballet dancer, danseur as important. He supports Ballerina in some of the most beautiful and challenging parts of the classical repertoire. Many danseurs ,, Marcelo Gomes such as American Ballet Theatre is proud to be a partner. It feels safe on the stage of the ballerina and lines to ensure that the body is shown in a flattering light. Meanwhile, most men are forced to fight the stereotype of femininity Ballet. Art form is often perceived by the public as a woman's domain. Small dance studios, only a handful of guys mixed in with the girls who are usually present. Many of these schools, the partnership comes to more complex jumps and turns are not required, especially when the resources or knowledge to train personnel properly. Many successful male dancers, Gomes, left home to train at the prestigious school at a young age, that's why.
3. A live pianist accompanies daily ballet class
When you think of a ballet company, accompanist is one that probably comes to mind. Yet both during class pianists and daily rehearsals and performances, plays an important role. She helped shape the 19th century, later replaced violinists, as well as countless rehearsals and performances with them as young dancers' musicality of pianists. And means an easy task. Not only do they need to be able to play at different speeds for a wide range of pieces for each section of the class, they must also be fluent in ballet terminology. A teacher says, "we will know which part of the music for each dance accompanist to begin with the" will of the glissade.
2. Not all ballet dancers are young
Belle is the same stereotyped as feminine art, it is also considered a young one. And while most professionals are hired by large companies to retire between the ages of 30 and 40 years, some of the artists. It is usually as the Royal Ballet of London, while his main career, soloists or principals dancers in the ranking of companies. Now less physically demanding, but technically challenging to perform the role. If a man can play the role of artists such as Prince in Sleeping Beauty now, but he will portray Van Rothbart, the evil sorcerer.
1. Tutus are handmade
Apart from pointe shoes, is necessary for the performance of a ballerina's tutu. It, is also an important professional expenses for professional companies after a single high-quality tutu can cost $ 2000. But they also last for a very long time - sometimes several generations of 30 years, and dancers can wear them. The future of the actors had to wear it before will know, so that dancers in traditional Tutu to write their names. A classic tutu top layer of 13 to 15 inches around the hips appear, but additional layers of tulle over ten below, are supported by a metal hoop. It sounds scratchy sewing beads and a time of tulle. It can take 120 hours to make a tutu!
