Ballet: Shades

International Ballet Competition

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:

Beautiful ballet dancers

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Prima ballet dancers

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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

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.