Ballet was transformed into the elegant dance it is today from dances originally performed by European country peasants. In the 15th century, Italian princes performed poetry, music, singing and dancing in their courts. They developed a dance form, and the special steps for the ballet. During the 17th century professional ballet dancers began to appear. King Louis XIV of France, a dancer himself, established France as the center of the ballet world and french became the language of ballet to this day. Yes, men were the original dancers of stage ballet, and women had to earn their right to dance publicly.
It is important that the child who wants to pursue ballet as a career begin their intensive study early on in their childhood. Training as a professional dancer needs to start by the 11 or 12 for girls and about 14 for boys. An early start helps develop the flexibility and strength in the muscles and bones of the dancer.
There are two options to studying ballet. One ballet option will be to study at a school that has a local qualified ballet teacher teaching ballet exclusively to youngsters. The other option would be to audition for a full-time ballet school where ballet and academic classes are offered in one place. Most pupils will live at the school, eating, sleeping going to academic classes as well as learning dance, music, drama and choreography lessons.
In the Beginners class, dancers learn technique, basic movements at the barre, jumps and traveling steps. An advanced class will work on the same excercises and finish with pointe work for the girls, and jump practice for the boys. Classes are slow and careful focusing on perfecting simple steps. The training will gradually progress to more complicated movements and combinations of steps. The dancers learn how to use their bodies correctly , so that they avoid injuring themselves later on more difficult movement. A dancer will move to pointe work when her feet, ankles and back are strong enough to support her weight correctly.
Occasionally, the school will put on perfomances, recitals, for the parents and public. Here is where the dancer demonstrates what skills she has learned and learns to develop an awareness of where others are on the stage. Stage performances are essential for motivation, incentive to practice hard and helps you get used to performing in front of an audience. If the school is large enough they will also perform an annual Nutcracker at the end of the year.
Auditions are usually required for class advancement, for Summer School Abroad and entrance into a Ballet Academy. This is a dance test in front of examiners who look for youngsters with talent, correct physique, sensitivity to music and physical control. The examiners look dancers who have the potential to develop into a level of excellence. Audition applicants also have a physical examination to check their joints, shape of their foot (for pointe work) and straight legs that turn-out properly.
The ultimate ambition for the dancer is to gain a position performing for a professional company. In order to be chosen and obtain a contract as a professional dancer new dancers must have excellent technique, physique and stage presence. Wages, good working conditions, additional classes, costumes and shoes and tights are all provided. Some ballet companies tour and the dancer will need to be away from home for long periods of time. Most performing careers are short, rarely lasting beyond the mid-thirties. Injuries are also common and one can miss a year or two of performances. It is important to get experience and work qualifications in other areas that will enable the dancer to continue in the ballet field.
Other careers a ballet dancer may want to pursue when their ballet route has been exhausted, can include dancing for musicals, as a Choreographer, or a Dance Notator (Reads and writes scores of repertory) may also take on the role of Ballet Director/Mistress who coordinates and schedules school performances. The more obvious role an ex-dancer will take on is of a Ballet Teacher. Here he or she will help the next generation of dancers learn the Classical technique and the love of dancing. Training usually takes three years, but many dance colleges will provide a one-year course to dancers who have danced professionally.
Ballet takes many years of training for the young dancer. But with dedication and determination, and the love of the classical ballet, one can pursue a career in ballet in one of the various exciting areas.
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