Famous ballet schools in U.S

California Ballet
The largest professional ballet company in Southern California, California Ballet has over 100 ballets in its repertory, including major full length classics such as Swan Lake, Cinderella, Giselle and Sleeping.
Location: 4819 Ronson Court, San Diego, CA 92111
Website: http://www.californiaballet.org/

Los Angeles Ballet Academy
Los Angeles Ballet Academy was established in 1992 as Theatrics Dance Academy. Los Angeles Ballet Academy offers some of the finest dance instruction available in the San Fernando Valley.
Location: 18138 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA 91335
Website: http://www.laballet.com/

New York City Ballet
New York City Ballet has from the beginning been committed to pushing the edge, transcending tradition, and creating a body and style of work that no one before dared imagine.
Location: New York City Ballet
Location: 20 Lincoln Center, New York, NY 10023
Website: http://www.nycballet.com/index.html

City Ballet School
City Ballet School of San Francisco offers classical Russian Vaganova based training, taught by the finest teachers, and modeled after Artistic Director Galina Alexandrova's own training at the Bolshoi Academy in Moscow.
Location: 32 Otis Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Website: http://www.cityballetschool.org/

Pacific Ballet Academy
Pacific Ballet Academy offers a full range of graded classes, from pre-ballet to pre-professional training. We provide an unique opportunity for students of all ages and abilities to study the traditions and discipline of Russian Ballet.
Website: http://www.pacificballet.org/
Location: 765, Los Altos, CA 94023

Anaheim Ballet
Anaheim Ballet's mission is to enlighten and entertain audiences with classically rooted programming and contemporary presentation.
Location: 280 E. Lincoln Ave, Anaheim, California 92805
Website: http://www.anaheimballet.org/

Northern California Ballet
Northern California Ballet Company is a California non-profit corporation dedicated to bringing quality full-length Classical Ballet to the North State.
Website: http://www.northerncaliforniaballet.com/index.html
Location: 5794 Clark Road Paradise California

City Ballet of San Diego
City Ballet of San Diego brings together professional artists from across the country and around the world, performing classical and contemporary ballet at San Diego's premiere dance venue, the historic Spreckels Theatre in downtown San Diego.
Website: http://www.cityballet.org/
Location: PO Box 99072, San Diego, CA

Famous ballet schools in Canada

National Ballet School of Canada
The National Ballet School of Canada was established in 1959. It’s one of the world’s foremost training institutions for aspiring young dancers and teachers. Attracting students from across the country and around the world, NBS is the only ballet academy in North America to provide elite dance training, academic instruction and residential care on the same campus.
Location: 400 Jarvis St, Toronto ON M4Y 2G6, Canada
Styles : Classical Ballet, Neoclassical, Contemporary, Modern, Other
Website : http://www.nbs-enb.ca

Royal Winnipeg Ballet School
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet School was founded in 1939 by Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally. This ballet school holds the double distinction of being Canada's premier ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America.
Location: 380 Graham Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 4K2, Canada
Styles : Classical Ballet, Neoclassical, Contemporary, Modern, Folk, Other
Website : http://www.rwbschool.com/

Goh Ballet Academy Canada
Established in 1978, the Goh Ballet Academy is an internationally renowned institute, recognized for its high caliber ballet training and performances, providing students with advanced knowledge to prepare them for a flourishing career in the field of dance.
Location: 2345 Main Street Vancouver, BC V5T 3C9 Canada
Styles : Ballet
Website : http://www.gohballet.com/

Victoria Ballet Academy
Victoria Ballet Academy of Canada provides the highest quality ballet training for for children and adults in a warm and friendly environment. Students are stimulated culturally and intellectually through their personal achievements, public performances and educational trips within Canada and abroad.
Location: 7751 Yonge St, Thornhill, Ontario, L3T 2C4
Styles : ballet, character dance, modern and ballet gymnastics
Website : http://www.victoriaballet.com/

Quinte Ballet School of Canada
In 1972, the Quinte Dance Centre was established as the Belleville branch of the National Ballet Guild, a fundraising and public awareness arm of the National Ballet of Canada with Brian Scott as the School's Founding Artistic Director.
Location: 196 Palmer Rd, Belleville, ON, K8P 4E1.

Alexandra Elagina's North American debut

Alexandra Elagina, a 23-year old Russian, has already traveled extensively across Europe in her short budding ballet career. She has performed Snow White, Sleeping Beauty’s Fairy of Tenderness, Little Swan in Swan Lake and a lot of other performances too.

She is yet to bring her talents to the U.S. audience. Alexandra will make her North American debut at the Eisenhower Hall Theater at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (NY) on Nov. 13 in Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker, in which she dances the lead role of Masha/Clara along the performance’s east coast tour.

Source: http://www.nutcracker.com/

Upcoming ballet events: Find the nut cracker

The 3rd annual "Find the nut cracker" contest will be starting on November28th. There are 30 nut crackers with each having two tickets and are ready to deliver on the participating locations. Here is the list of the top participating Ballet Businesses as of now.. Newsbeat City Bicycle Works Britt Steele Boutique Tres Chic Bead Fetish The entire list of the top Ballet Businesses will be published after November 25th. Good luck for all the participants in this event! Source: http://www.sacballet.org/

Ballet dancer: Alina Cojocaru

Alina Cojocaru is a female principal dancer with The Royal Ballet of London. She was born on 27th May 1981 in Bucharest, Romania. From her young age she studied gymnastics. Later she began ballet classes, despite never having seen a live ballet.

At the age of 7 or 8 she began gymnastic classes, progressing at the age of 9 to a Bucharest ballet school which acted as a feeder for the Romanian State Ballet school. In January 1997, aged 16, she competed in the Prix de Lausanne, a prestigious international ballet competition. She won the gold medal, winning a six month scholarship to train at the Royal Ballet School in London. She moved to London that same year to commence her training, but did not speak any English. Cojocaru's early appearances with the company included performing in the opening gala for the refurbished Royal Opera House, plus appearances with the corps de ballet in the Kingdom of the Shades from La Bayadère, as a snowflake in The Nutcracker and as a doll in Coppélia.

Ballet dancer: Allie Bertram

	Allie Bertram is a Ballet dancer from Calgary, AB. She is a graduate of the International School of Ballet. She participated in so you think you can dance canada ,she was one of the top 19 contestants. Allie Bertram was Runner-Up. That week she performed "Rock This Town"—Stray Cats, style was Jive with Danny Arbour.

The Oklahoma Festival Ballet

The Oklahoma Festival Ballet is the resident ballet company of the University of Oklahoma. The company maintains a repertoire of over 33 short ballets and numerous full-length ballets in styles ranging from classical to romantic, abstract to contemporary and dramatic to comedic. Such choreographers as Massine, Balanchine, Terekhov, Fokine, Stevenson and Joffrey are represented in the repertoire.

The Oklahoma Festival Ballet is a company of 40 dancers. The company is efficiently organized for touring and boasts an impressive national and international touring schedule, which has included performances in Taiwan, Mexico, Ecuador and France.

Georgian National Ballet

Ballet dancing for beginners

Ballet dancer: Anders Selinder

Anders Selinder was a Swedish dancer, Ballet master, choreographer and director who lived during 4 November 1806, Stockholm-6 November 1874, Stockholm . He was the master of the Royal Swedish Ballet from 1833 till 1856.

Anders Selinder was also a premier dancer at the Royal ballet in the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm in 1829-1846. In 1833, he was appointed as the ballet master at the age of twenty seven, and replaced Per Erik Wallqvist, who had first shared the position with Sophie Daguin; Daguin was principal of the Opera's ballet school, and together, Selinder and Daguin are considered to have uphold a high standard in the ballet. Selinder are considered as one of the most notable of the masters in the ballet. During this time, there was a new interest for the old Folk dance, which were at that time disappearing, and Selinder learned them and preserved them by making them in to ballets. He wrote several ballets and made the choreography to the national opera Värmlänningarne in 1846. In 1856, Selinder lost his position; Sophie Daguin was fired the same year, and this is considered to be the start point of the decay, which was considered to affect the Swedish ballet during the second half of the 19th century. After 1856, he created the first travelling Swedish ballet company and toured in Sweden; they also performed folk dance and instructed everyone interested in learning. In 1858-1866 he managed a children's theatre, and in 1870-1871, he was joint director in the theatre Ladugårdslandsteatern.

2009 American dance competition winners

A classical/contemporary dance competition for the professional bound student. Scholarships offered to over 10 Professional Ballet Companies. Including: Ajkun Ballet Theatre, Alabama Ballet, Ballet Florida, BalletMet Columbus, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Lexington Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, & Atlanta Ballet.

World Ballet Competition 2010 - Christina Ricucci

Christina Ricuccu, the 11 year old girl won the gold medal for her Murrieta Dance Project in the introductory division held at the World Ballet Competition, 2010. She was also the Hope Award Winner at the 2010 YAGP - San Diego, and 1st place winner at the YAGP Philadelphia. For this particular dance she also won first place at the KAR National Finals in Las Vegas 2010 and at the Bravo Competition in Los Angeles.

Ballet dancer: Agrippina Vaganova

	Agrippina Yakovlevna Vaganova was an outstanding Russian ballet teacher who developed the Vaganova method- the technique which derived from the teaching methods of the old Imperial Ballet School.Vaganova's whole life was connected with the Imperial Ballet of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg.
Ballet did not come easily to Vaganova in her first years as a student, but slowly, through the efforts of her own will power, she was able to join the illustrious Imperial Ballet upon her graduation. By the time she attained the rank of soloist, Saint Petersburg balletomanes dubbed her queen of variations, for her unlimited virtuosity and level of technique.

Ballet dance: Isabella's 1st Ballet Competition

Ballet dance: Upcoming ballet events

The Suzanne Farrell Ballet
The Kennedy Center's own The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, "too distinctive, too juicy, too fabulously fearless to pass up, returns with two mixed repertory programs featuring works of Balanchine, Robbins, Béjart, and Mejia.

Nov 17 - 21, 2010
Eisenhower Theater
$29.00 - $84.00

The Joffrey Ballet: The Nutcracker
The Joffrey Ballet dancers perform Robert Joffrey's "dazzling" version of Tchaikovsky's family classic, featuring charming Victorian scenery and costumes.

Nov 24 - 28, 2010
Opera House
Approx. 2 hours
$45.00 - $150.00

American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre's elegant stars continue to prove ballet's enduring power with Ratmansky's evening-length work The Bright Stream and a mixed program as part of The Presidency of John F. Kennedy: A 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Jan 18 - 23, 2011
Opera House
$25.00 - $99.00

Mariinsky Ballet: Giselle
Boasting an artistic legacy that spans more than 200 years, St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Ballet returns with the classic evening-length ballet Giselle, choreographed by Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, and Marius Petipa.

Feb 8 - 13, 2011
Opera House
$29.00 - $150.00


Source: http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/ballet/

International Ballet Festival of Havana

The International Ballet Festival of Havana is a ballet festival held in the Great Theater of Havana, Cuba every two years. Created in 1960 by a joint effort of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba, the Instituto Nacional de la Industria Turística and the cultural organizations of the government, the International Ballet Festival of Havana was added to the plans of massive diffusion of arts started after the popular Cuban revolution on January 1, 1959. The Festival, with its character, has allowed people to enjoy the performances and the works of prestigious figures of the world of the dance and has also shown to the visitors the high level reached by the Cuban ballet.

In the year 2000 it celebrated its 42nd anniversary. This defines it as one of the oldest of all held in the world. Created in 1960 it quickly became one of the most transcendental events of the national Cuban culture and of the international dance as well.

After more than four decades of work, the International Ballet Festival of Havana goes forward keeping its creative potentiality in the promisory future of the 21st century.

Ballet dance: Famous International Ballet Competitions

PRIX DE LAUSANNE: Prix de Lausanne is a selective competition for dancers ages 15–18 who are ready—or nearly ready—to enter the professional ballet world, but have not yet danced professionally.

USA INTERNATIONAL BALLET COMPETITION: One of the world’s most prestigious dance events, the USA International Ballet Competition is a two-week “olympic-style” competition where tomorrow’s ballet stars vie for gold, silver, and bronze.

VARNA INTERNATIONAL BALLET COMPETITION: The International Ballet Competition - Varna was established in 1964. Its first edition was held from 2 to 13 July at the Open-Air Theatre in the same city - the biggest sea resort of Bulgaria. It is the first professional international ballet Competition in the world.

HELSINKI INTERNATIONAL BALLET COMPETITION: This Competition will be organised by the Helsinki International Ballet Competition Association in cooperation with the Finnish National Opera and Finnish National Ballet School.

PARIS INTERNATIONAL DANCE COMPETITION

PARIS JAZZ CONCOURS INTERNATIONAL

JAZZ DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY COMPETITION

Ballet dance: How to Behave Responsibly at a Ballet?

Professional ballet dancers spend countless hours preparing for a performance. They are expected to follow several rules of etiquette for their audience, both backstage and onstage, to ensure a successful, entertaining show. It is the responsibility of the audience, in return, to respect the dancers by also following a few rules of etiquette. Remember the following rules of etiquette the next time you attend a ballet performance.

Arrive on Time
It is considered courteous to arrive on time, even a bit early, to a ballet. Some theaters do not allow late seating, meaning you may not be able to enter the performance hall once the ballet has begun. Ballet audiences become extremely annoyed at people walking in front of or stepping over them, as a ballet is emotional...it simply ruins the moment. If you must be late, wait until the first intermission to find your seat. Sometimes there will be a pause or a break with enough time for an usher to help you find a temporary seat.

Be Silent
Once the ballet has begun, be as quiet as possible. Do not talk, unwrap candy, tap your feet, or make any other sounds. Cell phones have become a major distraction at live performances. Make sure your cell phone is turned off or silented, and never attempt to answer a call.

Don't Take Pictures
Don't even bother bringing your camera. Dancers rely heavily on lighting during a performance...a flash could interrupt their spotting technique, or even blind them for a second or two, which could result in injury. Some theaters have laws against cameras of any kind.

Ballet dance: Top 10 classical ballets

Lets see about the top 10 classical ballet which are must to visit for anyone who enjoys ballet. These are considered as classical because they all have similar composition, costuming and style. The music of each one is classical, and the female dancers always dance en pointe. The choreography of each ballet has stood the test of time: no matter who choreographs the performance, the basic structure remains similar to its original. Enjoy learning about the following 10 classical ballets.
1.Cinderella
Most people are very familiar with the rags-to-riches story of Cinderella. Although countless versions of the Cinderella story exist, the ballet is based on the one we all know so well. Cinderella is the endearing story of a young girl who finds love and happiness through her acts of kindness. The ballet is based on the fairy tale written by French storyteller Charles Perrault.
2.Coppelia
Light-hearted and entertaining, Coppelia follows the romantic games of sweethearts Franz and Swanhilda. This ballet classic, much like The Nutcracker, is a delightful performance for introducing young children to classical ballet.
3.Don Quixote
A historical ballet based on the epic masterpiece by Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote is a fiery tale of love, adventure and loss, sure to excite the senses. Don Quixote closes with one of the most popular pas de deux in dance history, the grand pas de deux for lead characters Kitri and Basilio.
4.Giselle
One of the most popular ballets of all time, Giselle is probably being staged somewhere almost all the time. The romantic ballet has attracted the best dancers in its leading roles since its creation. Giselle's ballet-blanc, or corps of women in white, has become a symbol of classical ballet.
5.La Bayadere
A story of eternal love, mystery, fate, vengeance, and justice, La Bayadere is an extravagant ballet about a temple dancer named Nikiya. Nikiya is in love with a handsome warrior, Solor, who also loves her. But Nikiya is also loved by the High Brahmin, but does not love him in return.
6.La Sylphide
One of the earliest romantic ballets, La Sylphide is based on a rather silly, fantastical plot. James, a young Scotsman, runs away from his wedding to dance with his dreams in the forest. All does not end well, for either James or his dream, the beautiful Sylphide.
7.The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is an annual holiday treat for the whole family. For many people, the holidays wouldn't seem complete without attending a performance of The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker Ballet is based on a story of a young girl who dreams of a nutcracker prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads.
8.Romeo and Juliet
Considered the greatest love story of all time, Romeo and Juliet is based on Shakespeare's classic tragedy of young love. Prokofiev composed the incredible ballet score in 1935 or 1936. The music has inspired many great choreographers to try their hand at Shakespeare's story.
9.Sleeping Beauty
The first successful ballet composed by Tchaikovsky, Sleeping Beauty was the first ballet seen by a sickly 8-year-old child named Anna Pavlova. After the performance she decided that she wanted to become a ballet dancer.
10.Swan Lake
Often considered the epitome of classical ballets, Swan Lake is a tale of love, betrayal, and the triumph of good over evil. Swan Lake tells the story of Odette, a young girl doomed by an evil sorcerer. A spell is cast over her, condemning her to be a swan during the day and a human only at night. Odette is the queen of the swans, the most beautiful of all. In order to break the spell, a young man must acclaim his undying love for her.

Ballet Ireland: Romeo And Juliet

The company performs a new production of the classic ballet, choreographed by Morgann Runacre-Temple.
Location
Ardhowen Theatre
Dublin Road
Enniskillen, County Fermanagh BT74 6BR
Phone: 028 6632 5440
Website: www.ardhowentheatre.com
Date:Fri 29 Oct 8pm

Theatre By The Lake
Lakeside
Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5DJ
Phone: 01768 774411
Email: enquiries@theatrebythelake.com
Website: www.theatrebythelake.com
Date:Tue 16 Nov 7:30pm

Source:http://www.list.co.uk/events/dance/ballet/

Youth America Grand Prix

Youth America Grand Prix is the world’s largest student ballet competition that awards over $250,000 scholarship annually to leading dance schools all over the world. This competition will be held annually worldwide and in New York City.

This competition was launched in 1999 by two former ballet dancers of the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet, Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev. YAGP was created with a mission to provide extraordinary educational and professional opportunities to young dancers, acting as a stepping stone to a professional dance career. It aims to fulfill its mission by offering:

• Educational opportunities for dance students around the world
• Opportunity to receive contracts to dance companies worldwide
• Scholarships to leading dance schools in the U.S. and abroad
• Invaluable professional exposure to world-renowned dance professionals
• Performance opportunities on some of the world’s most prestigious stages and at dance festivals around the world
• Workshops with the renowned master teachers and judges of the competition

The annually sold-out Youth America Grand Prix Closing Night Gala featuring YAGP finalists on the same program as the stars of the world’s leading dance companies, "Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow,” will take place at New York City Center on Tuesday, March 22, 2011.

Ballet dance: Moscow International Ballet Competition

New York International Ballet Competition

Ballet dance: New York City Ballet

The New York City Ballet, one of the foremost dance companies in the world, is unique in US artistic history. Solely responsible for training its own artists and creating its own works, the New York City Ballet was the first ballet institution in the world with two permanent homes, the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, New York. Explore what New York City Ballet has to offer — its rich company history, repertoire of ballets, and world-class dancers.

Location & Nearby Info: David H. Koch Theater 20 Lincoln Center Plz New York, NY 10023 (212) 579-4176 Event date & time: Wed, Jan 19 - 7.30pm Thu, Jan 20 - 8:00p Fri, Jan 21 - 8:00p Sat, Jan 22 - 2:00p Sat, Jan 22 - 8:00p Sun, Jan 23 - 3:00p

Kings of ballet dance: Margot fonteyn

The ballet dancer of all time suits well to Margot Fonteyn and she is an excellent ballet dancer of 20th century. Let us see how her Margot started her dancing career. At the age of eight she started to learn ballet from the Russian teacher and at the age of fourteen she joined the ballet school to learn ballet. At the age of twenty she performed a role in Giselle and swan lake and at the age of thirty she toured the united states of America and became as the most famous celebrity due to her performances.

At the age of 21 she and her dance partner Robert helpmann toured several countries and her passion towards balled dance had not stopped. Most of them thought she would retire, but at the age of 43 she paired and danced with the male ballet dancer Rudolf nureyev and it happened to be a successful performance. During her entire career life she danced for the royal ballet and she was honored with the title prima ballerina assoluta. She did many main roles and got many awards and honors such as dbe, women of achievement and she was also a chancellor of university of Durham. The great dancer life was ended at the age of sixty in panama

Kings of ballet dance: Rudolf nureyev

Rudolf nureyev born in a Siberian train near Siberia while her mother was traveling to Vladivostok. I guess Rudolf born with the dance because he was born in a moving train. He started to love the dance on the performance of his sisters into the ballet. At the age of twenty he became one of the famous soviet union dancers. Rudolf was defected by soviet union because he broke the rules and danced with foreigners. He was not allowed to soviet until 1989 and during his visit he danced with the kirov ballet in Leningrad.

Rudolf danced most of its ballet with an elderly dancer Margot fonteyn and he danced with Margot first in royal ballet. They both danced together for many years and nureyev danced with fonteyn till at the age of 50. Rudolf said to Margot that they danced with “one body, one soul.” Nureyev appeared in a film in 1962 and then he appeared in several films and toured all over the united states and died in 1992 due to the attack of aids.

Kings of ballet dance: Mikhail Baryshnikov

Mikhail Baryshnikov is always sited as the best ballet dancer of the 20 century. His talent sprung at a very young age. But the opportunity windows were very limited in the Soviet system where he grew up. Being shorter than most of the dancers he could not tower over a ballerina and was offered only secondary parts. Even more frustrating truth Baryshnikov noted was the classical styles that the Soviet system wedged to and new creative talents of the west were purposely ignored.

"It doesn't matter if every ballet is a success or not," - Mikhail Nikolayevich Baryshnikov "The new experience gives me a lot." His passion to learn new modern techniques and mix contemporary art to Ballet Baryshnikov moved to Canada. Baryshnikov’s decision to devote his full attentions to the New York Company stunned the dance world. George Balanchine never welcomed guest artists but he trained Baryshnikov in his distinctive style and Baryshnikov accomplished in such signature roles as Apollo, Prodigal Son, and Rubies. "It doesn't matter how high you lift your leg. The technique is about transparency, simplicity and making an earnest attempt.” After performing several successful roles he became the director of American Ballet Theatre in 1980. "Dancing is living" for Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Ballet dance: Royal Ballet Portraits in London

A meeting between Royal Ballet Principal Steven McRae and iconic fashion designer Sir Paul Smith is what set the scene for a novelty project, The Royal Ballet in Portraits:

“Several months ago I was asked if I could meet a young man called Steven McRae who was a big fan of Paul Smith, which I did and he came to my studio in London. After meeting him I realised that he was a Principal Dancer of the Royal Ballet and that his history was very interesting, he was from Australia and his father had an extraordinary career as a drag car racer and he was one of the youngest Principals ever.” - Sir Paul Smith

Further discussions finally led them to agree on a concept: known for his enthusiasm for photography Sir Paul would shoot 18 of the Company’s Principal dancers, creating “engaging, interpretive images to capture the elegance and character of each individual dancer.” The images were taken at the Royal Opera House’s ballet studios and backstage. Most impressively the sessions were completed in just two days.

Ballet dance: ballet band

The Balletband is a resistance band that has been created specifically for dancers–by dancer Todd Fox. He began producing them when he was dancing at Cleveland Ballet in 1998 and has been selling them ever since.

Made out of a very sturdy, green latex, the band is a great tool to use for stretching. I just finished playing around with it and I found it very easy to work with. It comes with an instruction sheet to show several different ways to use the band, and I came up with a few more that were tailored to my own specific needs.

I think this product would be a terrific thing to bring on the road, as it is compact and lightweight. You could easily tuck it in your dance bag or luggage without it taking up too much space. Also, at least for me, it made stretching more fun. I have never enjoyed that part of the workout routine, and to have a tool to help make it more interesting was very helpful.

I’ve used many resistance bands before and the thing I liked the most about this one was the fact that it is so durable. When I’ve worked with other bands I’ve always felt as though they might snap with enough pressure. Balletband was thick and it gave me a secure feeling, even when I did the stretch pictured to the left.

The learning curve is low with Balletband, and it doesn’t require any specialized knowledge to use, which is nice. I don’t think it would be the right tool for younger dancers, but those who are experienced at stretching would probably enjoy changing things up by using it.

This product would make a great gift, or an investment for your dance studio. I could see it being used in class–or offered for students to use in-between rehearsals.

Kings of ballet dance: Anna Pavlova

Anna Pavlova, the finest classical dancer of the late 19th century and early 20th century and she was the first ballet dancer to tour all around the world. She struggled a lot to pursue her career and her mother was a laundress and she started to love the ballet when she saw the performance of maruis petipa’s show of sleeping beauty and she wanted to learn ballet at her early age and she was rejected by the imperial ballet school at the age of eight.

Anna Pavlova's first ballet stage appearance was in the age of ten in maruis petipa’s the fairy tale. She struggled a lot to reach the position of a great dancer and her sickly appearance was criticized by her fellow mates. She learned from many teachers and improved her performance and made her first official appearance in mariinsky theater. Her stunned performance was praised by a famous critics and historian nikolai bezobrazov. She became a favorite of her old maestro petipa’s and due to her performance she was called by many names such as coryphée, Giselle and pavlovatzi. She is known for her portrayal of swan in the dying swan and swan lake. She was introduced to the audience of united states from 1914 to 1917. she quoted many quotes and one of the quotes that impressed me a lot is “What exactly is success? For me it is to be found not in applause, but in the satisfaction of feeling that one is realizing one's ideal”. The great ballet dancer died for the dance while she was instructed to have an operation for pneumonia and said that she could not dance after her operation. She didn’t have that operation and said. “If I can't dance then I'd rather be dead”.

Kings of Ballet dance: Roberto Bolle

Roberto Bolle an outstanding performer of ballet dance is also known for his athletic body. He is a talented dancer and started his dancer training at the young age of 12. From there his dancing career started to glow well and he performed dances in various stages and countries. He was an ambassador of UNICEF since 1999 and he has appeared in various fashion and style magazines.

Bolle performed a solo ballet performance in the opening ceremony of winter 2006 Olympic Games and it was broadcasted worldwide and he performed in front of 2.5 billion people. His performance credits goes on and he performed a dance in Queen Elizabeth’s place in Buckingham palace where it was shown live by BBC and broadcasted to all common wealth countries. His unique combination of physical beauty, power, and elegance has aided in his becoming one of the world's most recognized dance celebrities. He is also a social helper where he raised a fund of $ 655,000 for education and health projects in Sudan. Roberto Bolle is one of the international dancers who danced in all internationally renowned ballet companies like royal ballet, national ballet of Canada, Tokyo ballet and more.

Ballet dance: Kings of ballet dance

There is no age limit to start learning dance. You may get inspired at 6 or even at 60. It’s simply the passion that should drive you to learn dancing. Without passion, learning an art is impossible or it becomes artificial.

It is this passion for dance that has given us some of the best dancers in the world or we shall crown them the “Kings of Ballet Dance”. In this page you will discover some of the best ballet dancers and what has put them in that grand and amiable position.

It is a very difficult task to short list a few and crown them as Kings of ballet dance, but I have tried my best not to miss out the best. There are a range of famous dancers spawned across centuries who have devoted their lives for the art of dance. Here is a short synopsis of some of the greatness that I would be sharing here…

• Mikhail Nikolayevich: Best ballet dancer of the 20th century
• Roberto Bolle: An outstanding performer
• Anna Pavlova: The Finest Dancer in the History
• Margot fonteyn: The ballet dancer of all time
• Rudolf nureyev: The Tatar ballet dancer
• Mikhail Baryshnikov: The ballet dancer of 20th century

Ballet dance: How to create a dance routine?

Once you have learned a few dance steps, try putting a few of them together to music. It's fun and simple to create your own dances, and it's a great way to practice new steps. Try dressing up in an old costume or leotard and have a mini-recital at home.

• Choose the music.

Pick out a song that has a strong beat to make it easier to put steps to.


• Decide on an opening pose.

Choose the way you will be standing when the music begins.


• Plan steps in counts of 8.

8-counts are easiest to fit steps to.


• Plan the steps for the chorus.

Perform the same sequence of steps each time the chorus is played. This will make the routine interesting by adding repetition.


• Decide on a finishing pose.

Strike a strong pose on the last notes of the song.


• Practice.

The more you practice, the better your routine will be.

Tips

• Choose your best, most striking moves for the chorus.


• Use familiar steps that you are confident in performing.


• Hold your finishing pose for at least a few seconds.


• Memorize the steps in relation to the words of the song, to make it easier to remember.

Ballet dance: What Are Pointe Shoes Made Of?

Pointe shoes are made almost entirely by hand, usually out of satin. The square box in the toe of the slipper is called the block. The block surrounds the dancer's toes and helps provide balance for her to stand on the very tips of her toes. Although it is hard and shaped like a box, the block is not made of wood. The block is actually formed like paper mache', with layers of fabric, paper and strong glue.

Pointe shoes are fairly expensive, and they don't tend to last very long. A professional ballerina may go through several pairs of pointe shoes in one performance!

Ballet dance: Pointe Shoe Fitting Problems

Fitting pointe shoes can be tricky. Finding a pointe shoe that fits your foot properly can take time, as every brand of pointe shoes fits the foot a little differently. Once you find the right pointe shoe for your feet, you may need to do some tweaking in order to find just the right fit. Here are five common pointe shoe fitting problems and easy solutions.

Big Toe Pain or Bruised Toenail If you are feeling pain in your big toe or experiencing bruised toenails, first check to make sure the shoe is not too short or too wide. Once you are sure the fit is correct, try the following techniques: Gel or Foam Cushion: Place a small cushion made of gel or dense foam underneath your big toe. The cushion should lie between the outer corner of your big toe and the inside of the pointe shoe. The cushion should be large enough to reach the top of your toenail. Foam Liner: Place a thin foam liner on the inside of the toe box, resting it on top of your foot. The foam will prevent your foot from sliding down into the toe box and putting pressure on your big toe. Long Second Toe If your second toe is longer than your big toe, taping a piece of gel or foam to the tip of your big toe will make it the same length as your second toe. Another solution is to take the pressure off of your second toe by using a cescent-shaped cushion. Space Between Big Toe and Second Toe If your second toe is longer than your big toe, you might have excessive space between the two. This problem sometimes results in pain at the bunion joint. Try using a toe separator in the space. If pain persists, a podiatrist or orthopedist can help with bunion pain. Sore Spots or Chafing If you are prone to sore spots or chafing skin, taping can help tremendously. Try taping sore toes with an elasticized foam tape. Pointe Shoe Slides Off the Heel If the heel of your pointe shoe is sliding off of your foot, first check to make sure the shoe is not too big or too small. If the fit is correct and the ribbons and elastics are doing their job, try a peel-and-stick heel gripper. Try cutting the gripper strip in half and placing a piece on each side of the heel seam of the shoe.

Ballet Dance: Dancer's favourite tutu

In The Australian Ballet’s 2011 calendar 13 of the company’s leading ladies are featured wearing their favorite tutu. Dancers chose powder-puff, Romantic and ultra-modern tutus from a wide range of works including The Sleeping Beauty, Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude, Swan Lake, Firebird and more. Soloist Juliet Burnett sheds light on the tutu – the ballerina’s tool of the trade – in the calendar’s in-depth foreword.

For the calendar The Australian Ballet teamed up with photographer Jo Duck to shoot three dancers wearing their top tutu. The Melbourne-based photographer has worked with fashion labels Limedrop, chip chop! and magazines YEN, Fallen and Vice among many others. Before Jo Duck’s ballet shoot, we bumped into the studio with a mountain of tutus, three ballerinas, a make-up artist from Napoleon Perdis and their endless lipstick supply.

Ballet dance: A new path for Jane Casson

After nearly a decade with The Australian Ballet Soloist Jane Casson is hanging up her pointe shoes to pursue other passions: motherhood and her own business. Jane has performed much of the classical and contemporary repertoire and has been lauded for her versatility and comedic portrayals. With a business already under her belt, Jane is looking forward to the new challenges ahead.

Ballet dance: Ballet Gala in aid of charity

On Sunday November 7th, a collection of your favorite ballet dancers are getting together in London to dance in aid of charity. I think you can relish the chance to see unusual combination at this gala night.

Source: balletnews

Eliot Murray Big Band at the Ballroom

Enjoy the golden, glamorous era of fabulous live music, entertainment and spectacle with one of the best big bands in the UK.

Travel back to a golden, glamorous era of fabulous live music, entertainment and spectacle. Dig out your dancing shoes and enjoy the finest sprung dance floor in Scotland, take your table by the bar in our cabaret style-seating and listen to one of the best big bands in the UK. Why not enjoy cocktails and supper as you and your friends dance late into the night?

With music from the 60s, 70s and 80s right through to the present there will be everyone’s favorite tracks and the superb opportunity to experience the thrill and excitement of an outstanding big band event!

The Eliot Murray Big Band are a versatile dance band playing all styles from Glenn Miller and Frank Sinatra, through to the 60s, 70s and right up to more modern arrangements as used by Robbie Williams. Since forming in 1995 these exceptional musicians have worked with the likes of Natalie Cole, Neil Sedaka, The Supremes and Luciano Pavarotti.

Days and Time: Saturday at19:30

Tickets £25 including supper. Available from the Beach Ballroom on 01224 647647

Location: Beach Ballroom AberdeenAB2 1NR

Telephone: 01224 647647

Ballet dance: ballet training

Ballet dance: 5 ballet positions

Ballet dance: steps for beginners

Ballet dance types: Romantic Ballet

Romantic Ballet is a ballet dance style in which the ideas of Romanticism influenced the creation of ballets. This era happened from early to the mid 19th century at the Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique and Her Majesty's Theatre. Romantic Ballet had a slow decline. Saint-Léon's, ballet Coppélia is the last work of the Romantic Ballet. The works of Romantic Ballet focused on conflicts between man, nature and the society. The decline of male dancer and the rise of ballerina started in this era. Ballerina became the central part of ballet.

Check this video to view a Romantic ballet dance:

Ballet dance types: Contemporary ballet

Contemporary ballet is a dance style influenced by classical ballet and modern dance. Although it allows a greater range of movements, it takes its technique from classical ballet and the concepts from the ideas of modern dance. George Balanchine was the first pioneer of contemporary ballet and the dancer who danced briefly for Balanchine was Mikhail Baryshnikov. Baryshnikov's worked with various modern choreographers like Twyla Tharp and created some distinct modern movements with pointed shoes and classically-trained dancers for contemporary ballet.

Check this video to view a solo Contemporary ballet dance

Ballet dance types: Neoclassical ballet

Neoclassical ballet is a ballet style that uses traditional ballet but less rigid than classical ballet. The dancers dance at extreme tempos and perform more technical feats. Spacing is more modern and complex than in classical ballet. It is the classical ballet style of the 20th century exemplified by the works of George Balanchine. It also draws the technique of 19th century Russian Imperial dance, but strips it of its detailed narrative and heavy theatrical setting. Although there are more organizations, the structure is a defining characteristic of neoclassical ballet.

Check this video to view a solo Neoclassical ballet dance

Ballet dance types: Classical ballet

Classical ballet is the most formal ballet style which adheres to traditional ballet technique. Based on the origin, there are various ballet styles: Russian ballet, French ballet, and Italian ballet. The most well-known styles of ballet are the Russian, the Italian, Balanchine Method or New York City Ballet Method. The pointe shoes were regular ballet slippers that were darned at the tip. It would allow the girl to stand on her toes to appear weightless. Classical ballet is defined by three rules : - everything is turned-out - when the feet are not on the floor, they're pointed - when the leg is not bent, it's stretched completely.

Check this video to view Moscow classical ballet:

Ballet dancer: Svetlana Zakharova

Ballet Videos

Joffrey Ballet Summer Events

Snow White in Ballet Long Island

If you are looking for a fun family performance , you need to come see Ballet Long Island’s production of “SNOW WHITE”. This ballet brilliantly captures the charm, pathos, humor and romance of this familiar story. Ballet Long Island’ s professional company members will be performing featured roles. Dorothy Reid Fritz is charming as Snow White and Nora Goodman passionately portrays the jealous Queen. Snow White is a great way to introduce classical ballet and classical music to audiences.

Venue:
Ballet Long Island
1863 Pond Road
Ronkonkoma, NY, United States
11779

Deadline: Sat Oct 30, 2010
Performance Date: Wed Oct 27 & Sat Oct 30

Source:dance.net

Dress for adult ballet classes

Adult ballet classes rarely need a dress code. If you feel uncomfortable in wearing tights and a leotard, simply wear a T-shirt and sweatpants. Make sure you wear something that allows you to move freely. Before you buy ballet slippers, ask your teacher which type she prefers. Ballet slippers are typically made of either canvas or leather. Depending on the studio floor, one material may be preferable over the other.

Adult ballet classes are generally structured the same as classes for younger dancers. Expect the class to last about an hour, sometimes a little longer. Your class will begin at the barre for warming up, then progress to the center for bigger movements. Taking part in an adult ballet class is good for your body as well as your mind. Besides promoting cardiovascular fitness and good posture, ballet is very enjoyable by people of all ages. Follow your passion and try a ballet class.

Adult Ballet

Have you always dreamed of taking ballet classes but now feel like it's too late? Do you feel like you are too old to get into a leotard and ballet slippers? Although professional ballerinas start at an early age, it's never too late to learn ballet. Adult ballet classes offer a fun way to tone and tighten your body while learning the fundamental techniques of ballet.

Adult ballet classes offer something for every age group, from young adults to seniors. If you have never danced before, a beginners class would be perfect for you. Beginner classes start off at the very first steps of ballet, so there is no reason to be intimidated. If you are a former dancer and want to return to ballet after several years, you will be placed in a class depending on your fitness and skill level.

American Ballet Competition 2010

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World Ballet Competition 2010 - 11 yrs old, Christina Ricucci

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Ballet dance: Dance tips for beginners

Dance is something that can change a lot of things around us. It has life and spreads life when performed. The spirit of the person who dance inspires the viewers and co dancers to have a happy, romantic or any kind of feeling that the dagalleriesnce is actually passing on. When you need to bring in a cheerful mood in a party or anywhere or just among friends or among families, dance and music are the first things to be brought out.

It’s very important that people who dance carry the spirit of dance till the end and lighten the heart as well as the souls of the audience. When you are ready to learn a new style of dance, it’s very important that you will have to know a little about that particular style of dancing. Just like other art forms, dancing also needs a lot of interest and curiosity for learning it. In this article you can get to know a few tips to dance so that you can learn the art well

It’s always helpful when you start a little earlier to your dance classes so that you will get a little extra time to warm-up your body and even recollect what you have learnt during your last class. Your teacher must have taught you simple exercises to follow daily so that you can avoid muscle pulls or cramps while you perform or learn tough steps. Make sure that you follow all the advices given by your teacher so that you don’t hurt yourself while you dance.If you are a beginner and have joined a dance class inspired by your friends or anyone else, then you will have to give some time for yourself to adapt and understand the art. So, don’t be in a hurry to learn it all in one go coz, dance is something that needs a lot of patience, practice, passion and dedication to get it the right way.

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Beautiful ballet dancers

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Prima ballet dancers

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Ballet's popularity

The short dances grew in fame and importance until they became a form of theater in their own right, escorted by a standardization of movements and defining of other stylistic meetings. As years passed, Russia became the international center of ballet dance, merging the strength and passion of Italian style with the softness and fluidity of the French school.

Paris is established as the capital of the ballet world. King Louis XIV, who ruled France during the late 1600's and early 1700's, strengthened that leadership. Louis greatly enjoyed dancing. He took part in all the ballets given at his court, which his nobles performed, but stopped after he became fat and middle-aged. In 1661, Louis founded the Royal Academy of Dancing to train professional dancers to perform for him and his court.

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Ballet dance and its origin

Ballet dance is the backbone for many other dance styles. Many dance genres are based on ballet. Ballet is based on techniques that have been developed over centuries. Ballet uses music and dance to tell stories. Ballet dancers have the ability to transport an audience to another world.

Ballet came out in the late 15th century Renaissance court of Italiyan style, as a dance interpretation of fencing, and additionally urbanized in the French court from the time of Louis XIV in the 17th century. Consequently, after 1850, ballet flourished in Denmark and Russia . It was from Russia that it returned to Western Europe and later the globe.


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Vienna Ballet Festival

VIENNA Festival Ballet celebrates its 30th anniversary with a UK tour which brings dancers to Worthing's Pavilion Theatre on Friday, October 8, at 7.30pm. Peter Mallek, the company's founder and Austrian dancer is hoping that the strong reputation built over the years will stand it in good stead in the tough times ahead.

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Breaking ballet news

Leanne Benjamin and Edward Watson will be replacing Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg in Kim Brandstrup’s new ballet Invitus Invitam on Friday 15, Monday 18, Friday 22 and Saturday 30 October.

This change is due to an old injury of Cojocaru’s which has flared up duing the creative process. Lets wish her a full recovery.

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National Ballet of Canada Announces 2009 Annual General Meeting

The National Ballet of Canada reported that the 2009/10 was an outstanding season, both artistically and financially. Audiences embraced the extraordinary range of repertoire, from classics to world premieres. A strong box office and donor support, combined with prudent expense management, resulted in a surplus for the year.

Lucille Joseph, the chairmain of The National Ballet of Canada, announced that the company had earned revenues of $25,531,000 with expenses at $25,129,000, resulting in a surplus of $402,000 (1.5%) for the 2009/10 season.

Source:balletnews

5 year old Kaylee doing Classical Ballet dance

Vow..! Very cute girl..Excellent video. Please watch!

Intermediate Ballet Dancing

Hip-Hop- Ballet Dance

Difference of ballet from other dance forms

Ballet is different from other dance forms, because it has very particular rules. Ballet dancing has movements through space, rhythmic patterns in time, control and release of energy, an awareness of the body in movement, a way to communicate without using words, means to tell a story or express an idea.

In early days, people dance to show their feelings and what they thought. Today dance is an important part of the rituals of many cultures and has a significant importance.

Ballet 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. You can find professional ballet companies on every continent. New York has been called the Dance Capital of the World.

Ballet is different from other dance forms, because it has very particular rules about how the dancer must stand and move. One of those rules requires that the dancer stand with their legs rotated outwards. This is called turn out. Turn out allows for greater mobility of the legs and produces a pleasing line in many poses.

Ballet is a theatrical form of dance and is usually danced with the idea of an audience viewing it from a fixed perspective. Ballet can be a very expressive art form, telling stories and showing emotions, or the work can be abstract.

Famous ballet schools in India

Ballet dance first originated in Italian Renaissance in 15th century. It further developed in France, England, and Russia. It is now taught in ballet schools all over the world. Ballet, in India is gaining importance now. There are many schools but the few very famous ones are:

The School of Classical Ballet and Western Dance:
This is a wonderful ballet school in Mumbai, Maharashtra. They teach and also carry out stage shows to bring out and show the talent of their students.

National Ballet & Academy Trust Of India:
This is an institute in Delhi, India. They have teachers from abroad for training the students in western ballet. It is a well recognized school in India and abroad.

The Lewis Foundation of Classical Ballet:
This foundation is situated in Bangalore, Karnataka. This institute teaches all underprivileged children motivating, inspiring them to bring out their skills.

Russian Cultural Centre:
This centre is in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. This centre carries out various cultural activities. The activities are art exhibitions, dance performances, competitions, meetings etc. they have a Russian teacher teaching ballet. A wonderful combination all in one.

BalletLORENT: Blood, Sweat And Tears

Blood, Sweat And Tears is a dance performance that explores the darkness and light of extreme love. It is about human effort in the realm of change and the beauty of sacrifice. This full length work looks at the night-time parenting of a newborn child. As a couple experience a tender and all-consuming love for their baby, and fight for affection and attention from each other, they are thrown into a hazy memory of their wedding day. A lightness of being is remembered amidst the fear of responsibilities to come.

Venue:
Oct 12, 8pm; Malvern Theatres, Malvern
Oct 14, 7.30pm; Artsdepot, London
Oct 20, 7.30pm; The Civic, Barnsley
Nov 15, 7pm; The Lowry, Salford

Tips for Buying Ballet Shoes

With so many ballet shoes available in shops, how do you choose the perfect shoe for you? If you are new to ballet, or if you are buying a first pair of shoes for your child, the following tips will help you find the perfect pair.

It should fit you
Ballet shoes are designed to portray the dancer's technique as well as to protect the dancer's feet and ankles. Ballet shoes should fit the foot like a glove. Don't intend to buy the shoe too small as it wouldn't be comfortable while dancing. There should be sufficient space for moving the toes. When trying on ballet shoes, raise up and balance on the balls of your feet. Your toes should not be crammed into the front of the shoe, but should be relaxed, with plenty of space to move around. If you are struggling between two close sizes, it's probably best to go with a slightly bigger size, rather than buying shoes that are a bit too snug.

Considering the material
Ballet shoes are available both in leather and canvas. The material you choose should be your personal preference. Leather ballet shoes might be expensive, but are more durable and lasts longer than the canvas variety. Some people believe that leather ballet shoes accentuate a pointed foot and simply appear more elegant than canvas shoes. However, some dancers prefer the feel of canvas ballet shoes. Canvas shoes are easiest to clean, as they can be thrown right into the washing machine.

Check the sole
Ballet shoes are designed with full-soles or split-soles. Full-sole ballet shoes closely mimic pointe shoes, which is important to dancers that are technically ready to dance on their toes. Half-sole ballet shoes are preferred by some dancers because they allow the foot to create a stronger point, as the sole is split between the heel and the toe. Sole preference is acquired through experience, and rarely makes much of a difference in dancing ability.

Check for Elastics
When picking out ballet shoes, keep in mind that some shoes are sold without elastics. Elastics are placed on ballet shoes to secure them to the feet. The elastics are purposely left off the shoe so the dancer can sew them on in exactly the right place, depending on the location of the arch of the foot. If you buy a pair without elastics, you'll have to sew them on yourself. It's not difficult to sew on the elastics, but some dancers, and especially parents of young dancers, prefer to buy them pre-sewn. If you find a pair of ballet shoes with pre-sewn elastics that happen to fit your foot well, consider yourself lucky to avoid threading a needle.

Ballet dance

Ballet is a perfect dance art. It requires strict discipline, attention, dedication, and love. The body has to be trained to dance with grace, elegance, and artistry. Ballet dance is referred as a passport for other dance styles. This dance gives a wonderful posture, elegance, and poise to the body.

Physical benefits of ballet:
* The awareness of the body alignment and control gives a good posture.
* Over a period the body gets toned and a perfect shape.
* Improves co-ordination.
* Energy is channelized positively.
* Improves the body in physical strength, flexibility and stamina.
* It cultivates grace in the movement of the body.

Holistic Benefits of ballet:
* It inculcates discipline, punctuality, and regularity.
* It increases self confidence.
* Student learns how to express his\her emotions.
* Energy is channelized positively.
* It also improves memory.
* Starts loving other dances also.

Ballet Slippers

Whether you dream of dancing "Swan Lake" with the Royal Ballet or are taking ballet classes simply for fun and exercise, you'll need ballet slippers. It's important that you find the best brand and fit for your needs.

Don't confuse ballet slippers with pointe shoes. A slipper is flexible, while pointe shoes are box-toed, made of shiny satin and used by advanced ballet dancers for pointework, or dance moves that require balancing on the tips of one's toes. Pointe shoes, also called toe shoes, are normally worn only by female dancers, though male dancers will occasionally wear them.

Style
If you're new to the world of ballet, buy your slippers at a store that specializes in dance shoes and do it in person. As with any other shoe, size matters. Make sure you can wiggle your toes inside the shoe. Despite what a salesperson may advise, if the shoe makes your toes curl up, don't buy that size. While a leather slipper will stretch a bit, it won't stretch that much. If you can't allow your toes to spread when in ballet positions, your balance will be affected.

On the other hand, if you're buying ballet shoes for a child, don't buy them too large, thinking your child will grow into them. Oversize shoes make dancing difficult. Some instructors recommend shoe shopping at the same time of day as your dance class, since your feet swell during the day.

What to Wear for Ballet Class?

Keep the following in mind when deciding what to wear for ballet class: comfort and simplicity. The clothes which you wear for ballet dance must allow you to move and stretch easily. Your clothing must be tight enough for your teacher to check your body alignment during certain movements. Most ballet teachers prefer dancers to wear a cover-up of some sort to and from the studio. This is as simple as a pair of dance pants or a dance skirt paired with a crossover sweater or a sweatshirt worn over your leotard. Also, never use your ballet shoes as street shoes. Slip on a pair of sneakers or flip-flops instead, in order to prolong the life of your ballet shoes.

A simple leotard and a pair of tights is the best thing to wear to class. Leotards are available in several colors and designs, including sleeveless, short sleeved and long sleeved. Young dancers delight in wearing small skirts and tutus over their leotards, but most teachers discourage them in older classes.

When should you buy new pointe shoes?

The average life of a ballet pointe shoe is only around 4 to 12 hours of dancing. Pointe shoe life varies depending on what type of shoe paste the manufacturer uses, how the shoes are treated between classes, how much the ballet dancer perspires, how strong the dancer is, the number of classes the dancer takes, how long the dancer practices, and which steps are performed, to name a few.

Pointe shoes usually need to be replaced when the platform is no longer stiff, when the box becomes too soft, or when the shank no longer offers proper support. You will notice these things by feeling pain in areas you never feel. You may also start falling off pointe when you try to balance, or fall forward out of turns. If the toe box or shank becomes mushy, soft, cracked or bent in any way form, it is definitely time for a new pair of pointes.

It is imperative that the box offers complete support. If your shoes are wearing out frequently, try not to put all of your weight on the box. Try instead to use your own muscles for the support you need.

How To Break In New Pointe Shoes?

Breaking in a new pair of pointe shoes will make them more comfortable when you wear them. When a ballerina breaks in her pointe shoes, she is actually molding the pointe shoes to the shape of her feet. Remember that a perfectly molded pointe shoe begins with a pointe shoe that is precisely the correct size and type for your foot. If you are buying your first pair of pointe shoes, it is extremely important to be fitted by a professional. If you begin with the wrong size, achieving a perfect fit will be nearly impossible. Once you have the perfect shoes for your feet, here are a few things you can do to break them in.

How to break your shoes?
Soften the box: Gently massage the sides of the toe box with your hands. Some ballet dancers soften the box by standing on top of their shoes or by slamming their shoes between a door and its frame. However, great care must be taken to avoid "breaking" the toe box. Please note that softening the box is not always necessary. Some dancers prefer a stiff box.

Soften the shank: The shank is the stiff midsole that presses underneath the arch of the foot. Gently massage the demi pointe area of the shank, or the area that bends while on releve.

Walk on demi pointe: One of the best ways to break in pointe shoes is to simply put on the shoes and walk around in them. Try rising onto demi pointe and walking, forcing the shoes to conform to your own arches.

Do roll-throughs: Starting in first position, bend your right knee and press your right foot up to full pointe, pressing through the top of the toe box. Repeat on the left side.

Work at the barre: Performing exercises at the barre is enough for some dancers to break in their pointe shoes. Try lots of plies, concentrating on rolling through demi pointe, all the way up to full pointe, then down flat again.

Ballet Tips:
1. If you are breaking in your first pair of pointe shoes, ask the advice of your dance instructor.
2. Never bend your shoes in half or pound them with a hammer, as doing so may break them.

The ideal body for a ballet dancer

Although Ballet dancers vary in body type, there are some physical characteristics that make it easier to become successful. Keep in mind, however, it can take years to develop the correct suppleness, shape and strength in their bones and muscles. Still, only a few lucky dancers will ever meet the strict requirements needed to become a professional ballet dancer.

Profile of the Ideal Ballet Body:
* Long, elegant limbs
* Strong, supple back
* Straight legs - not bowed or knock-kneed
* Arched feet
* Good turnout from the hips
* Loose hamstrings
* Firm muscle tone
* Slender frame
* Neat, fairly small head

Even if you don't have an ideal body for Ballet, however, ballet dancing can be an extremely rewarding experience.

Is Barre Work Really Necessary?

Ballet instructor makes us spend most of our class at the barre. The barre exercises seem to be so repetitive, and a little boring.

Barre exercises should make up a significant portion of a ballet class, for beginners as well as advanced dancers. Even though exercises performed at the barre may seem monotonous, they are meant to help Ballet dancers build strength and learn correct body placement.

Exercises at the barre are very important for the following reasons:
* They help warm up the muscles.
* They increase speed and precision of footwork.
* They help the body prepare for jumps and turns.
* They increase flexibility and strength in the spine.
* They improve balance.

Amazing Ballet Dance--BEST VIDEO EVER

The best ballet-dancers in the world dancing for you