Ballet for everyone

When you say ballet, you think of lean bodies, women on the tips of their toes, and graceful movements. Classical ballet is not just a sport; it is an art form, a lifestyle. Young girls dream of living in the spotlights, women use their thirties and forties to revive their childhood dream. Fortunately these days, you no longer have to have the perfect body to be able to take advantage of the physical benefits that a lesson in a ballet school offers around Rotterdam. Whether you are looking for a creative outlet, pursue a professional career, or want to improve your fitness; ballet gives you some valuable life lessons.

 

Correct posture in and outside the dance class

Posture is one of the most important, and perhaps one of the most difficult, aspects of the art form in classical ballet. Only if you maintain the correct posture can you perform dance steps and positions correctly. It all starts when you are ready for an exercise. You pull in your belly, put your chest forward and your shoulders back, your chin goes a step higher, and you turn your feet from the hips. You maintain this position throughout the exercise, and only when the practice is entirely closed, you may let go of the posture.

Correct posture is also essential in daily life. Good posture not only makes you feel better, but it also prevents back pain and other related aches and pains. By regularly taking dance lessons, you strengthen your back and abdominal muscles, and this has a positive effect on back complaints. It is advisable to inform your ballet studio if you suffer from back problems, then the teacher can take this into account when performing the exercises.

 

Conscious body language through ballet class

Not only your words, but also your body plays a vital role in communication. Your body language gives others an essential impression about who you are. Your body unconsciously sends signals to everyone you interact with in your free time and at work. The exercises that you learn in the ballet class ensure that you become more aware of your body language and that you learn to control your body.

 

But it goes even further than your body alone. Also in ballet, RBF (Resting Ballet Face) is a thing. This means that during the moments of rest in the dance school you should not walk around with a big smile on your face, but you should be aware of your facial expressions. You can, of course, let go of your smile, but you have to be careful not to look bored or uninterested. You can also use this awareness in professional life: looking bored at work is never a good idea.

 

Discipline

Discipline in ballet that means learning steps, practicing, and wanting to improve continuously. By repeating the same actions over and over again, a routine and a discipline created. It is thanks to this discipline that this beautiful art form can continue to exist.

Discipline also consists of the unwritten rules of conduct of a dance class. As soon as you enter a ballet studio, the teacher expects a certain degree of professionalism. You are supposed to remain silent when the teacher explains the exercise and talking to each other is not desirable in many lessons. Hair should not hang loosely, but you have to tie them together in a bun. Facial makeup is subtle, and your clothes must be spiky and span. Loose laces are an absolute no-go, and you don't wear tights with ladders.

In professional dance life, if you want to avoid injuries, you also need the discipline to take care of your body. Taking vitamins, smearing analgesic creams and getting into bed on time gives your body the much-needed rest to recover from the strenuous workouts.

You can use self-discipline in many aspects of daily life, when studying and in professional working life where you have to comply with the rules of the company.

 

Grow a thick skin

In a ballet school, the criticism is regularly beaten. "Fully stretch that foot", "support your elbow", "that leg can be higher"; these are just a few of the comments I also get during my weekly ballet class. Of course, this is no attack on your own person but an encouragement to yourself and improve your performance. Although it doesn't feel that way the first few times. Growing a bit of elephant skin is certainly not a superfluous luxury if you regularly attend a dance school.

We are also regularly exposed to criticism in daily life. If the neighbor does not gossip about you, your manager will have a tip of (constructive) feedback for you. In the first case, an elephant skin can ensure that you can take a "don't care" attitude. In the second case, it is best to look from the positive side and turn it into a learning moment.

 

The show must go on

Then after months of hard work, you are finally on the stage. You enjoy the spotlight on your face, the admiring eyes that are focused on you and the graceful dance steps that you have been struggling on for months. And then ... you feel your leg slide under you, and you sit on stage undesirably in grand écart.

It can happen to any dancer. No matter how embarrassing the moment may be, it is your job as a dancer that the audience does not notice your misstep. Make them think it just belongs to the act. After all, the show must go on!

You can use this skill very well in your daily life. Often people tend to see only the problem. Nobody gets any further with that, it is better to look for solutions directly. After all, that is the hallmark of successful businessmen.

 

Itching to dance?

Did you feel like taking a ballet lesson yourself after this article? You will find the ideal dance class or ballet studio for you in and around Rotterdam on Artship. Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly tips and trick about dancing at the bottom of the page.