The ballet is a classical dance whose representation is developed as a group on stage. The concept, of French origin according to what is indicated in the dictionary of the DigoPaul, is also used to name the company of dancers and the music composed for this type of dance.
In its classical format, ballet requires the dancer to fully control his body. That is why experts suggest that potential dancers learn ballet at an early age (from the age of six) because, otherwise, it will be very difficult for them to control their movements with the level of precision that this dance demands.
Due to the effort required to improve and the capacity for concentration that is needed to perform the steps, it is common for ballet to be considered a way of life for those who practice it. The challenge is getting all the muscles and parts of the body to move in absolute harmony on stage, something that requires a lot of rehearsal and training.
Ballet dancers, for example, must be able to move on the tips of their toes. For this they have special shoes, although the essential thing is that they develop enormous force in the calf and foot muscles.
One of the benefits of ballet is the deep development of all the musculature of the body, in addition to the enhancement of temporal and spatial awareness that emerges from years of training. Dancers are especially slender people and their movements are often very coordinated, even while performing everyday activities. Also, the flexibility you get from practice is not lost in adulthood.
Among the most famous composers of ballet music are Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971), and Richard Strauss (1864-1949). From the group of dancers, it is possible to highlight Rudolf Nuréyev, Julio Bocca and Mijaíl Barýshnikov.
This art, of great sophistication and an elegance that commands a certain respect when mentioning its name, originated in the royal courts at the beginning of the 17th century. In their original form, the dancers were required to wear wooden clogs and long skirts; as well as certain technical issues that make up training, clothing has evolved, although the essence of ballet remains intact.
One of the fundamental points of the practice of any sport or physical discipline is the warm-up: the dancers must respect the previous exercises without exception, to avoid injuries of various severity. Before each session, therefore, it is mandatory to stretch the muscles for a minimum of ten minutes; in the same way, at the end it is necessary to make complementary movements to adapt the body to normal actions, such as walking.
Ballet shoes are an icon of this art, and must be worn throughout practice. There are different types and styles, which is why it is recommended to ask an expert for advice. With regard to size, we must choose the tightest but avoid cutting off the circulation of the feet. In short, the difficulty of ballet is already appreciated when buying shoes.
It is also important to dress appropriately for training. In this case, the garments should be tight but comfortable; It is not advisable to dance with loose clothing, since it is necessary to be able to visualize at all times the position of each part of the body in front of the mirror. This last element, the mirror, is perhaps the dancer’s eternal companion, since in ballet the goal is to achieve perfection, something that can only be pursued by refining the steps every day.
