Being a dancer is seriously so hard. I’m only 16, but I’ve been dancing for 13 years and I’m currently attending a ballet boarding school in hopes that I will become a professional one day. Just at my age alone, I’ve already suffered a few major injuries, including a hip flexor surgery. It’s seriously so incredibly difficult, but pop culture acts as though we are all soft. The truth is, we are the most athletic and undermined. We make it look so easy because of how hard it actually is.
Totally agree when I was a rithmychal gymnast they made do an entire week of training ballet it was so har and my feet where so sore and hurt after that week
Not the case with me :) I’m now a professional ballet dancer. I started when I was 3 because I would shut up about doing ballet to my mom. I would’ve started at 2 if I could 😂
It is not for the money, never about the money..dance is an all consuming passion, it is all worth it. Every bit of the pain is worth it..you feel so beautiful, so powerful, when performing, all the mental pain disappears on the stage, then you are truly alive.
What these people didn’t mention that in most professional companies, the pointe shoes are given out. The companies provide the shoes for all the dancers.
Very good to talk about the negative sides to being a ballet dancer. Being an ex-ballet dancer myself, I know all about these things. When I was in NY, and trained with the ABT, I got to know Wendy Weelan personally. A lovely dancer and very kind person. That's rare. She even gave me some of her point shoes, as we had similar sizes and point demands. This helped me, during my stay there. Unless one is extreemly gifted, passionate about ballet, has lots of stamina, will power and works very hard, and especially has good contacts within the field, one shouldn't do this very stranious job. There is a lot of mental manipulation too, be it from teachers, directors or oneself... Later in life one usually regrets to have given one's all to such an ephermery and very tough job/passion. Eventhough, I still looove ballet, and the family we have within the field. Nothing like it elsewhere! But, it's only for the rare few... Good luck to all!
@@ashledashnaw2575 how do you know spell check didn't correct it to that spelling???????? Even though it's months & months later your noxious post still stinks. But beautiful comments are constantly littered with 💩 underneath so it's not surprising 🤣
@@missawsum4918 But you shouldn't if you're doing a piece on a particular topic. That's what research is for. If this were for a class, it would receive a failing grade.
@@summer1607 As a big fan of rhythmic here are some key differences: Ballet: men and women participate, women wear point shoes, performing for theater and shows, they get paid. Rhythmic: only females participate, focus on hyper flexibility, wear toe shoes, sports competitions are held throughout the season, each gymnast performs 4 routines( ball, hoop, clubs, ribbon). My channel is mostly rhythmic if you care to see more examples.
I worked with a young woman whose aunt had once been a professional ballet dancer. The aunt's whole life for over a decade was consumed by ballet. She didn't date, have any friends outside of ballet and considered having to attend school on non-ballet subjects as something that got in her way of her dancing. To say she was obsessed was an understatement. She was apprenticed to a regional ballet company at 17. When she was 18, she was in a car accident and just like that, her career in dance was over. It took her a long time to adjust because she didn't plan or make room for anything else in her life before the accident. Eventually, she went to college, got a degree, married and divorced. She went out of her way to avoid anything to do with ballet. The woman said one time when her aunt was in her 40s, her aunt accidentally saw a ballet performance on public television and watched it all the way through instead of turning it off like she usually did. She got really, really sad afterwards and stayed in bed for the rest of the weekend. The woman's father, who was the aunt's brother, said it was almost like she was a war veteran with PTSD.
That's sad. She shut the door on something she clearly loved, that was in her. She should have somehow found a way to use her knowledge, in order to stay in ballet to some capacity--like teaching.
That is sad ! She could have been like Tanaquil LeClerq who went from principle dancer to being in a wheelchair due to polio paralysing her legs. She taught other dancers
I wish i had the money to put my in ballet she loves to dance but i cant afford it i hope one day to get her in ballet she just turned 8 i dont want her to start to late
@@manifestabundance1689 dw u will be able to put her for ballet soon just wait until everything is stable economically and the pandemic has lessened.... plus it's never too late to start ballet and in the meanwhile u can train her to get flexible so that it is useful for her ballet techniques in the future.
@@rachel_shania omg thats great that its never too late.. i know i will have to make a choice move because they have nothing here ..what she needs work on pointing her toes.. can flexibility she has that she sort of like a contortionist... the way she bring of feet of head and things like that .. she is an lonely child but i dont want her talents to go to waste And she love this tik tok thing .. she is always dancing moving her around 😂😂😂
as much as this sounds scary, the people on dance or ballet stay on because they love it. the passion for dance sticks with you, and i can't imagine what will happen if i stop dancing.
I had to because of sevear injuries. It broke my heart and future, my dreams. Giving up a passion is so hard and it keeps itching even after 20 years. I my head I still dance. The hard realaty hard to cope with when now you can barely walk by times.
I really enjoyed my life as a dancer / I enjoyed each class making each movement better than the day before. Feeling that I improved putting the maximum energy and enjoying the piano music in the class. The presentation was always an extra gift. Living and feeling the dance every day is the happiness of a dancer's soul.
'A dancer dies twice; once when she stops dancing and this death is the most painful.' -Martha Graham (1894-1991) 🎞 Anyway, watch the documentary, 'Every Little Step' (2009), when you get the chance. This movie follows hopefuls for the last decade's past Broadway revival of 'A Chorus Line.' The late Marvin Hamlisch is featured in the film, reflecting on the original, game-changing show he helped to create. 🍿 Enjoy!
Marlon Moncrieffe True story, I quit dancing 4 years ago because of school and I needed to pass my exams, still miss it today I still do a bit of dancing at home and I enjoy doing that, but it’s a bit different from what I used to do.
seeing these comments makes me feel appreciated for being a dancer when usually im being told its easy and not a sport. its more than a sport its an art form.
Absolutely an art form! I saw the most amazing video of this very old former Prima Ballerina for the NY Ballet company in a wheelchair and she also has dementia now... tiny little thing.. 🦢 her nephew played music from Swan Lake for her and she started dancing so intensely with her arms I thought she might just float out of her chair and start dancing with her feet too... talk about having "muscle memory"! It was absolutely stunning and beautiful....it brought tears to my eyes. Dancers should totally be appreciated 🥿 I assumed they were..so it was sad to hear that's not always the case
*I'm a ballet dancer.i've never had any eating disorders,and only have 2 blisters a month 😃 my mom and dadb always helped me to care of my foot and always make sure i have a balanced diet,Although i have annoying little siblings;They always support me💖*
While I agree with Menual and believe that there are dancers who don't get injured, i know that those who do are actually not taking good care of themselves. They're not icing their feet or doing physio, or the exercises for preventing injuries. They might just skip warm ups and stretching and get straight into choreography hurting themselves. It not only takes skill to become a ballerina but also a lot of care and knowing your limits and sticking to them. There's no shame in turning down parts of a choreography or a role. Some dancers do get carried away with their passion and forget to take care of themselves. That's when they end up in trouble.
I am 83 started dancing age 4 danced in two major companies. From age 12 to 15 I danced in pantomime and musical in London England. I only had minor injuries all career. I the taught for 25 years and qualified for Pilates. I think this report is exaggerated.
“A dancer dies twice” couldn’t describe it better. I was a professional dancer but then had to stop dancing completely because of an knee injury. It literally felt and after 2 years still feels like I died that moment. Now It feels more like existing that actually living.
I understand the loss and the sorrow, i used to sing but my voice no longer is what it was. My advice is to look at things from a different point of view. We can all live very many different lives, you can find a new one and be whole again. Yes, you will always miss the dance but you deserve to more than just exist.
I felt that comment... ouch.💔 Sorry. There's still so much out there... you can find another life passion... I just hope you stay positive and keep trying new things until you find it! ❤🦢
@@YTistooannoying well yes we can turn our lives around find a new thing, blah blah blah and all that inspirational bullshit but how to even do that? when it's not just singing, it's ballet your whole life is wasted for just learning ballet, never having time for anything else and now you cant do ballet, have no grounds or experience to start over, n have to do a new thing and still support yourself somehow
@@YTistooannoying oh n unlike singing which impact is just your voice n probably affecting you mentally, a ballet dancers body would also be physically wrecked, their feet their body so whatever they wanna do after they still gotta deal with that ....
Ballet dancers are super humans. I eventually left the field at age 24 and didn't know what to do with myself. I felt lost. Eventually, even after having 2 children, I still plunged down to 98 lbs. I still struggle with having an appetite, but overall ballet taught me extreme discipline. I wouldn't take back the experience. Thank you ballet for making me who I am today 💎💖💘💫
@@andrealuisecandido1154 Sorry, I couldn't comprehend your reply. I will say I have practiced yoga for over ten years now and that has kept healthy and was a wonderful replacement for ballet. Still stay flexible and fit. 🙏
Ikr!! They’re so different even though they’re both incredibly hard and beautiful. It kind of pisses me off though, like if you’re gonna make a video about ballet, at least do your research well enough to know what’s NOT BALLET.
I saw that particular piece independently of this video, and they said it was to show how much harder the ballet dancers have to work than the gymnasts do. It was lauding the dancers, basically, and showing that the life of a ballet dancer is not an easy one.
PaddyPaws mmmm not always. in my school we have to buy our own shoes, and even if we get them from the professionals who don’t need them anymore we still have to pay them
I took ballet lessons as a child but my dad took me out once learning the teacher would only call me Elephant rather than my name, kinda funny now but it’s disgusting really
Most ballet teachers are narcissistic, these types of stories are not uncommon in the ballet world truth be told 99% of these ballet teachers couldn’t dance to save their lives let alone teach.
I was a professional ballet dancer and what she is saying isn’t far off but most of us took it in stride as this is the way the ballet world works. I feel blessed to have had that career and experience. It was definitely worth the sacrifices.
Former professional ballerina here. Most of this was very accurate! I had to retire when I was in my 20s simply because I couldn't afford to keep up with it anymore. My last performance, I danced the role of Princess Aurora for the Sleeping Beauty and when I took my final curtsy [and several curtain calls], I was crushed. For months I felt like my entire world was just GONE. Even now, nearly 12 years later, it still eats away at me.
Not just ballet. Former ice dancer here. I took my last bow at US Nationals. I still feel sick thinking about it because i had no clue it would be my last one. An injury not long after forced me into early retirement from competing. You put so much time, energy, money, and passion into dancing. Your whole schedule revolves around it, and then suddenly, it doesn't, and it can be difficult to figure out what to do with yourself later on. I'm STILL trying to figure it out. It doesn't help that I have no access to a rink in this town. :(
"many commit to ballet when they are as young as 3"... I mean considering the age, wouldn't it be more correct to say that the parents are committing them to ballet...
Sofia 01 Sort of, but the kid wouldn’t stick with it if they don’t like it. You can tell which kids like it by how they act in class. If it isn’t for them then their parents don’t keep them in it.
parents put us in ballet, but ultimately, it's the child's choice whether they want to continue. some quit early on and dont purse a career. so our parents just put us in as a extracurricular, but it's the dancer's decision whether to stay committed to it or not.
@@martinakuticic6620 that's not up to a parent to decide. sure they can map out a plan just in case, but a kid should be able to make their own decisions. some of us find our commitments through extracurriculars, others find it through much exploring through high school and sometimes even through college. besides. ik its said a lot, but money should never be a factor in a career choice. if u aren't happy in what u do, then what's the pointe ? haha. made a ballet joke. ignore me.
I started ballet class at 5. My choice, no one had to push me ! I didn't become a professional, I didn't have the body for it, but still took classes until I was 18. I loved it, pain, hard training and all. Had my body been the right shape, I would have tried to make it my profession. As it is, I am now 57, and I have started ballet classes again this year, after a 39 years gap, and I still love every minute of it ! Even my teacher told me she saw that every class I take, I look happier. So yes, it's a grueling calling, but if you truly love it, you can't escape it and you will dance, no matter the costs.
I danced for over 20 years. I have some health issues because of it. My lower spine and hips as well as tendon issues in my ankles. I wouldn't change it for anything though. I loved it!
if you are part of a production, do they pay for your shoes? I feel like if you are in a company, that should be part of your compensation. it's different from musicians who can keep the same instrument for years. Going through 2 pairs a show while getting paid less than $30,000 a year sounds infuriating .
I agree! There is pressure to look a certain way, depending on the teacher or directors... but up to each dancer to choose his/her own path. I would like to see more money/support for dancers and the arts though.
@@chynowethk If someone is a part of a ballet company their shoes are usually paid for. But there are ballet dancers who only work per production. An example being when the English National Ballet does really huge ballets in the round and have to hire extra dancers. Those dancers may get shoes while in the show, but when they are auditioning and going to class everyday they pay for those shoes themselves.
It's rythmic gymnastics, also train ballet a lot , train hours of ballet and hours rythmic gymnastics. To become a rythmic gymnast need to train ballet
@@JJ-uj3oc hi JJ, I know that, I follow both, I just thought that it would have been possible to make this video with only ballet dancers in it. I do see the similarities in both and have nothing but admiration to the ones dedicated, I just found it a little odd.
Im also a ballet dancer and my teacher know how bad eating disorders can be so no matter our size or weight she loves us and encourage us ✨✨ we’re so thankful for her
I had a friend who was a ballerina. She told me there's no day off. Every day that you don't exercise, practice and rehearse is a day you're going backwards. She paid for a lot of her training by teaching. She told me had never been on vacation, had a date, been out for pizza or slept late. I think of that whenever I go to the ballet - but I still go.
Exactly people are in my class are like “oh you can’t dance” and “oh you will never become a good dancer” if my class is reading this you don’t know the blood, sweat, and tears I have gone threw so I can to be a professional ballet dancer
I started training at 4 years old for ballet, currently I'm 10, It's seriously so hard, we have to train while being on our menstruation. I have anxiety performing on stage can be bad, I saw a girls from older classes being rushed to the hospital be cause they had malnutrition, my instructor only told us to eat healthy and not to put pressure on ourselves. my advice is to be healthy and don't pressure yourself. love to all ballerinas out there
When I was a child I wanted to be a ballet dancer but my parents could never afford to send me for lessons, but I have loved ballet ever since, watching the beautiful ladies glide across the stage has always thrilled me. I had no idea of the brutal regime these dancers go through, the cost to their bodies and also to their wallets, thank you for this insight it has indeed opened my eyes!
just came to this video to see if it’s accurate since i’m a competitive dancer. it is true that it’s better to start early, it’s painful, your life becomes dance, and you don’t have a lot of time for friends/hanging out. and yes, dance, especially ballet, can get VERY expensive. i’ve been dancing for 11 years. but not a lot of ballet teachers want you to loose weight. that’s just her teacher. like if course, many teachers want you to be thin but many teachers don’t make you not eat or anything like that. and point shoes are extremely painful. but it’s worth it because dance is so fun. some studios give pointe shoes for free. ballet dancers go through 2-3 pairs per dance/performance day. a lot of dance studios grab men who want to dance because male dancers are pretty rare. ballet is definitely stressful but it’s really fun and the pain is worth it. many of these comments are like “i’m never dancing” or “i’m never being a ballerina” but like they don’t realize how fun it is. these challenges are worth/needed to become a professional ballet dancer because you NEED the training to work professionally. i’ve been doing competitive dancing for 7 years and i’ve been dancing for 11. it’s super fun and yes, it’s challenging but so is life. dance is worth the pain because it’s so fun.
I Understand, but what happens when you stop dancing and you come to realize all that you've put your body through? What if you get seriously injured and it affects your life after dancing? Is the fun really worth the pain and overall stress of dancing? It's your opinion, I personally don't think I'd ever be able to give up that much but if it's what makes you happy then go for it ig.
I am very flexible and I have been doing dance for the last 2 years it is not ballet it is just dance I have tried points before and they really are not as painful as I thought
everything about weighing dancers is not true is today’s day in age. at most ballet schools, have scales are banned because of the stereotypes of ballet
There are still companies or schools that do weigh their dancers. In my school, we had a weekly weigh in. we also have to submit a diary that lists down all the food we eat and how much we exercised outside class. This is one of the reason I stopped dancing ballet when I reached 2nd year college (I was a Finance Major while being a scholar in the dance school). I had eating problems and always thought that I was not good or beautiful enough. Dont get me wrong, I love ballet and was extremely passionate about it. But it started affecting my health and I questioned myself if it was worth it. Once I reached 3rd year college, I quit dancing, focused on my Major and got a corporate Finance job. But despite the ups and downs of dancing, I will always be thankful for ballet. 😊
That is not true. Weigh ins happened in every institution I was in growing up, and continue to be a problem. We are no closer to fixing any stigma and pressures with eating disorders now than we were 10 years ago. Many places will say the weigh ins are to monitor for unhealthy low weights but that's never been the case in my experience.
Amen, I'm a huge rhythmic fan but I thought that was incredibly disrespectful. It's like the creator just googled " flexible dancer" and pasted every result.
Not a hater I really love this chanel but, I was a rhytmical gymnast (probably did not spell tha or this right) and some clips are rhytmical gymnasticks clips dont know if you knew that or not tho
They do, but you've got to buy your own for all those years of training that allow you to be good enough for a company to hire you and pay for your shoes. A pair or more per performance when you're 16 or 17 and not supplied by a company adds up real fast. They were talking about the cost of becoming a dancer, I think
This is sadly all true. I'm now nearly 35 & every day my heart breaks that I can no longer do the 1 thing I lived my life to do. I have bad hips, knees & ankles. My back is the worst though, I'm receiving monthly steroid injections into my lower back to ease my pain. I had never put my ballet & need for everything to be perfect together though.
Wow.. I didn't know this. Thank you for opening uo and sharing your story and experience. I hope you'll recover eventually. Now that you told me this I'm grateful my parents didn't put me in ballet like I desired, but in tenis instead. And I won't put my children in it as well. Thank you. Sending lots of love Kat
I love to watch Vera Allen dance. She died at an earlier age and had a lot of problems due to her dancing. I believe she also lost a child because the toll that dancing did to her body.
@@amykolterman3744 multiple miscarriage & being unable to conceive naturally unfortunately is very true for a lot of dancers due to body stress, low bmi & diet.
I hope you are in counseling. What I hear a lot of former or current ballet dancers saying is how they are in chronic pain but cannot stop or are unwilling to stop. That is called addiction.
1. thank you for your sacrifices. 2. I was at the Los Angeles premier of the documentary on the Ballet Russe a number of years ago. It was fun to see the former professionals receiving the recognition that they deserved. Hopefully, you will take up Argentine tango when you retire. I have had partners in their 90s. Most dancers who stay with dance do migrate to tango. With a good leader, you can be dancing and enjoying it within a few minutes.
i’m 11 and it’s pretty hard for me, let’s say if you learn ISTD, it isn’t that hard, ISTD isn’t so professional. If you learn NATD it would be bad, Specially tap. It gets worst at IF (Intermediate Foundation)
I miss it so much.. I remember my last show.. very emotional time 🥺.. I still put my point shoes on and dance around the house.. so that makes me happy 🤗
So I found a ballet school and I took cheer and we got second place at a competition. But now I wanna try ballet and even seeing this I still won't give up. Never give up on your dreams ♥️❤️
Dance is a passion. You just cant imagine life without dance once you're that committed to it. I had to give it up due to an injury that required intensive surgery on my hip. But even on that injured hip before the surgery, I continued to dance. I wasnt required to, I wasnt a professional, but dance was my everything.
@@naturalwill8 It was a repetitive motion injury that was exacerbated by an incident in which someone put lotion on their legs in the main dance room. Lotion wasn't allowed because it causes the floor to become EXTREMELY slippery. I dropped into my center split and my right foot hit the lotion. I went from easily sitting into my split, to slipping into it faster than my muscles could handle. I heard a pop and went shortly after that to a doctor.
Yeah, professionals go through more than one pair a show. They go through them so much because they are working so hard in them and sweating which breaks them down faster.
Yeah, I wear Gaynor Minden and I have to import my shoes from the US into Canada because I do not wear a standard size. I dish out around $230 CAD total just to get the shoes. Luckily, ballet is just a hobby for me so I need to buy them once or twice a year, depending if I'm doing an exam or a performance.
Well, it LOOKS nice, but...! Obviously not everything IS nice. But only talking about flaws will help getting rid of them. Being silent won't change anything!
Runners struggle with the same issues. Shoes are expensive and have a limit on the maximum number of miles, lots of body issues (eating disorders and or psychical injuries), constantly pushing themselves, a lot of hours spent training or recovering.
Ballet is a life style and not something you absolutely HAVE to do unless your dedicated. And in the end you just tell yourself “it was totally worth it”
I think ballet looks bad because it shows a dark truth :/ The same thing goes for figure skating, where young girls are pressured to lose weight to extreme levels.
Melissa A that’s not completely true. Ballet isn’t actually that bad, it can actually be very fun, if you’re into it. And you’re just talking about the weight thing. And what they’re talking about is horrible, yes. But, it’s is very rare. Most ballet is not like that. As people dance at different studios, most studios are actually very kind. And mainly doesn’t care. Ballet teachers are usually very supportive. So no, this is not the “ real dark truth”. It’s the PART of the truth. Which is very small. I am not denying that was happened to them is messed up, but that rarely happens, where you’re acting like that ALWAYS happens, which is doesn’t. And the opposite. Dance should be a stress free activity. And everyone already knew that you got messed up feet, if you do ballet. This is not the truth at all! And this was not recent. You have to understand this rarely to never happens!
I’m not a dancer but a figure skater. I used to have an eating disorder because my old coach. I got help and better now. I’m happy to say that I’m 135 pounds and 5 7’. I’m now in a healthy environment. Physically and mentally.
We were introduced to ballet very young, I was 4 and remember being exhausted after pre school and then ballet. I wanted to play outside or take a nap. Our parents said if we didn't want to continue, we could stop. I'm so glad they let us be kids, just being outside in the sun playing.
It's so sad that dancers are paid so little for working so hard. They put all of that energy and passion into it, only to be paid a bare minimum. I have a huge amount of respect for dancers, because they have passion and they work hard for what they want. I also do ballet, but don't aspire to be a professional. To all of those amazing ballet dancers out there, you work so hard and are amazing!
Thank you so much! I appreciate that. At my ballet company, I get paid 1000 per show, and the male dancers get paid 10000 per show. Bruh- I work so hard and I get paid so little. Once again, thx for your comment.
When I was a dancer I lived and breathed dance. I only hung out with dancers. I only partied with them...and mostly that’s all we talked about. We were healthy, however, and diligent about it. We ate together so influenced a healthier lifestyle. The thrill of dancing Is about as thrilling a flying . Going in for a class , not being able to do something that 1.5 hrs later you CAN do is unbelievably rewarding. Always building in an accumulative way is like a magnetic pull. There ARE advantages being of certain born physical traits: longer limbs over shorter torso, for example. The inside of the thigh is to be no wider than the front side (we turn our knees and legs out. Things like that. It used to be a far more strict body code.Cristy Copeland helped by breaking through that glass ceiling. God bless her for that.
Ballet may create social life issues outside of class, however because of the amount of time you spend in class with the people your age, you still have a social life, just with your fellow pupils/colleagues
@@karinefonte516 im not a competitor. so not really. dancers are some of the nicest people ive ever met. mostly it's a constructive criticism thing in ballet classes. cant say for companies, though. im not in one.
I am an old school gymnast and a ballet dancer. Used to train under old school Russian teachers. The fact is that nowadays people want to achieve something, they want to be the best but they want it to be easy. Well, if it was easy, everybody could do it. You can choose between becoming somebody extraordinary or an average Joe who hangs out on his/her phone and goes to bars with his/her friends. If you look at extraordinary people in sports, you will notice a pattern. They go the extra mile. For the outside world, it is a sacrifice what they do. If you are really committed, living it and being passionate about it, it is a part of your life style. In your eyes, you are not missing on anything from life. Discipline, love, passion, focus and organization is what it takes to become great in sports.
yes ballet is so incredibly difficult and i’m exhausted and hurting all the time but ballet is my life and i don’t know how i could live without it. there’s no other feeling like getting on stage and doing a variation you’ve been working on. i really appreciate this video and how it shows how hard this life is.
im sorry but did anyone cringe at the clip at 4:14 the girl literally hops up on her box, exactly what proffesionals are NOT supposed to do (nor should anyone lol)
I am in such awe of ballet dancers. Nothing is more beautiful. It's so sad they have to suffer for their art. But as a painter (figurative) I understand what it's like to work for so little.
As a former dancer I have to say 'Yes', this is true. Now that I'm older my shoulders are blown out and my back fractured and I have huge bone spurs in my feet. I can no longer dance the way I used to, but it doesn't stop me from moving. I believe Life is Movement.
This is all true BUT if ballet chooses you, if you are on fire for ballet, none of this will stop you from going all in for ballet. No one does this because it's easy.
Furthermore reason why I love them so much. They work so damn hard and put alot of pressure on themselves to make ballet gorgeous and look easy. They are truly strong and courageous people to make such sacrifices to reach their goals.
Yes it is true, but passion is passion, myself i want to become a professional ballerina and i will take what it costs, but i will maintain my health before anything
Yet they manage to make it look so effortless as they gracefully glide across the floor. It truly takes dedication to continue with all these obstacles.
As a formally trained creative dancer, I retired from dance twelve years ago. Now, I find myself, verging into sport competitive dance in Ballroom, Latin, Swing and Cabret competitions. I'm redefining my role in the dance world and looking forward to doing so.
When I was 4 i was told i would never be a professional ballerina because of my feet . Honestly im kinda glad but for 4 year old me it as devastating and I saw ballet as life. Luckily professional competitive karate isn't to straining and when your only 12 you can still already be on a competition team with all ages . Although it's straining and you often get injurys , it is a different activity to ballet and there are separate pros and cons
Im a dancer and half of it is true. Back problems are very common and eating disorders are quite normal for us. Getting praised for loosing weight is very true and the more you lose weight, the more positions you get put in. Edit: but there are many good sides too. It's a beautiful dance and I helps express feelings. That's what I love about ballet 💜
We only say garbage like "ballet is a sport" in the States because art isn't respected. Why don't we work toward changing our crass culture to one that actually respects and values the arts instead of falling into the awful snare of insisting one of the greatest art forms is a silly sport? I find insisting that dance is a sport to be highly degrading.
Growing up I was seriously into gymnastics and ballet. I loved it. When I realised that it led to my anorexia and alcoholism, my mom got me out. I still have self esteem issues to this day.
What they don't understand is that, yes, there are negatives and high demands to dance/ballet but there's a reason we choose to dance. No one is forcing us to dedicate ourselves to this beautiful art form and no one is stopping us from leaving if we wanted to. But for some people, including myself, stopping would be like losing a piece of my identity.
Being a dancer is seriously so hard. I’m only 16, but I’ve been dancing for 13 years and I’m currently attending a ballet boarding school in hopes that I will become a professional one day. Just at my age alone, I’ve already suffered a few major injuries, including a hip flexor surgery. It’s seriously so incredibly difficult, but pop culture acts as though we are all soft. The truth is, we are the most athletic and undermined. We make it look so easy because of how hard it actually is.
👌Good luck!
I love it how people still say that dance isn't a sport... Like you wanna go
I hope you achieve your dreams. I've never thought ballet was easy.
Do every ballerinas must had longer legs??
You've been dancing since you were 3?
Finally, people recognize how hard a ballerina's day is. People judged me for being too "atached" to ballet🙄
Totally agree when I was a rithmychal gymnast they made do an entire week of training ballet it was so har and my feet where so sore and hurt after that week
Not the case with me :) I’m now a professional ballet dancer. I started when I was 3 because I would shut up about doing ballet to my mom. I would’ve started at 2 if I could 😂
Wouldn’t **
Brynn Lennon same, i forced my family to let me join ballet
Attached*
It is not for the money, never about the money..dance is an all consuming passion, it is all worth it. Every bit of the pain is worth it..you feel so beautiful, so powerful, when performing, all the mental pain disappears on the stage, then you are truly alive.
😅😅😅🤣
jesus fucking christ
@@metropunklitan that's disgusting and rude, don't say that
I know that felling. When I did jumps I convinced myself I was flying and actually felt like I was.
then along comes middle age and all your identity is in one container
What these people didn’t mention that in most professional companies, the pointe shoes are given out. The companies provide the shoes for all the dancers.
Hatsteph La176 yes but until you get there, it’s a long way...
depends on the contract and even then there is a limit, women must have custom shoes to dance probably the justification for paying them less
1 2 yeah
There are several articles talking about hard it is to find the right pointe shoes for dancers of color...shoes are a serious issue in ballet.
yes but only in sertain time but not all of their shoes were given by the companies
Although there are a lot of sad realities, people tend to skip over the good parts of ballet.
Yup
@@justjose8002 Omg name is Jose to what coincidence
Exactly. They say all of this but this doesn’t happen to everyone. They act like we hate it or something almost every dancer loves it.
IKR!!!!
@@steelcage8923 oh nice!
Very good to talk about the negative sides to being a ballet dancer. Being an ex-ballet dancer myself, I know all about these things. When I was in NY, and trained with the ABT, I got to know Wendy Weelan personally. A lovely dancer and very kind person. That's rare. She even gave me some of her point shoes, as we had similar sizes and point demands. This helped me, during my stay there.
Unless one is extreemly gifted, passionate about ballet, has lots of stamina, will power and works very hard, and especially has good contacts within the field, one shouldn't do this very stranious job. There is a lot of mental manipulation too, be it from teachers, directors or oneself... Later in life one usually regrets to have given one's all to such an ephermery and very tough job/passion. Eventhough, I still looove ballet, and the family we have within the field. Nothing like it elsewhere! But, it's only for the rare few...
Good luck to all!
Hi Cindy, I too had a career in ballet and so appreciated reading your comments. I feel the same as you so eloquently expressed. Thank you!
i have recently also quit ballet and I wasn't professional or anything like that but it got rough
Pointe* learn to spell the name of the footwear you claim to use. 🙄
@@ashledashnaw2575 What an ugly and rude comment to make!! You fail to realize that your comments reflect your upbringing and demeanor.
@@ashledashnaw2575 how do you know spell check didn't correct it to that spelling????????
Even though it's months & months later your noxious post still stinks.
But beautiful comments are constantly littered with 💩 underneath so it's not surprising 🤣
dancers are way too underpaid for the amount of work they put into it
It's also kind of nauseating that even in the world of ballet men are paid more😕
Rrgh, so true.
Marjorie that’s because their are less men in ballet so they are willing to pay higher because men are a big part of ballet
Random Candy and they know that they are in short supply, so they tend to be real jerks about it. They know they can generally “name their price”.
@@randomcandy8209 thank you for the insight😊
video: about ballet
editor: uses rhythmic gymnastics videos
and the try guys -Why when there are so many great options out there
@@missawsum4918 But you shouldn't if you're doing a piece on a particular topic. That's what research is for. If this were for a class, it would receive a failing grade.
i don’t know anything about ballet or rhythmic gymnastics so i would like to know what’s the difference?
@@summer1607 As a big fan of rhythmic here are some key differences: Ballet: men and women participate, women wear point shoes, performing for theater and shows, they get paid. Rhythmic: only females participate, focus on hyper flexibility, wear toe shoes, sports competitions are held throughout the season, each gymnast performs 4 routines( ball, hoop, clubs, ribbon). My channel is mostly rhythmic if you care to see more examples.
Its part of ballet i know because i do ballet and we do rythmic gymnastics all the time
I worked with a young woman whose aunt had once been a professional ballet dancer. The aunt's whole life for over a decade was consumed by ballet. She didn't date, have any friends outside of ballet and considered having to attend school on non-ballet subjects as something that got in her way of her dancing. To say she was obsessed was an understatement. She was apprenticed to a regional ballet company at 17. When she was 18, she was in a car accident and just like that, her career in dance was over. It took her a long time to adjust because she didn't plan or make room for anything else in her life before the accident. Eventually, she went to college, got a degree, married and divorced. She went out of her way to avoid anything to do with ballet. The woman said one time when her aunt was in her 40s, her aunt accidentally saw a ballet performance on public television and watched it all the way through instead of turning it off like she usually did. She got really, really sad afterwards and stayed in bed for the rest of the weekend. The woman's father, who was the aunt's brother, said it was almost like she was a war veteran with PTSD.
That's sad. She shut the door on something she clearly loved, that was in her. She should have somehow found a way to use her knowledge, in order to stay in ballet to some capacity--like teaching.
That is sad ! She could have been like Tanaquil LeClerq who went from principle dancer to being in a wheelchair due to polio paralysing her legs. She taught other dancers
That animated background dancer was offensive lol
N G literally came here to see if it bugged anyone else 😂
Offensive is an understatement 😂😂
Yeah. Someone who’s only seen one ballet and never even stood in 1st must have animated it lol.
Amelia Bateson 1:16 2:02 2:38
How?
It’s the passion that keeps them going but they really should be compensated better. I’m shocked at how little they make.
Supply and demand; sadly, there is always another dancer to replace you.
Well go see professional ballets if you want that.
Many of them have wealthy sponsors that help them with rent, groceries, etc
@@esquibelle groceries? I thought all they eat is toilet paper..
@@forheavenssakeidonthavewif2657 We need to be able to build muscle to support our body. Toilet paper doesn't help.
honeyyyyyyy ALL OF US AREN'T ANOREXIC........ we stretch and eat and exercise
the company provides you with pointe shoes fyi
@Im an avocado ikr!!!! 🙄🙄🙄
Yep, true lol, only some are anorexic, I think it's rare tho, since I have never met an anorexic dancer
I wish i had the money to put my in ballet she loves to dance but i cant afford it i hope one day to get her in ballet she just turned 8 i dont want her to start to late
@@manifestabundance1689 dw u will be able to put her for ballet soon just wait until everything is stable economically and the pandemic has lessened.... plus it's never too late to start ballet and in the meanwhile u can train her to get flexible so that it is useful for her ballet techniques in the future.
@@rachel_shania omg thats great that its never too late.. i know i will have to make a choice move because they have nothing here ..what she needs work on pointing her toes.. can flexibility she has that she sort of like a contortionist... the way she bring of feet of head and things like that .. she is an lonely child but i dont want her talents to go to waste
And she love this tik tok thing .. she is always dancing moving her around 😂😂😂
My dance instructor doesn't encourage us to lose weight she just tells us to eat healthy
Animal Lover I’m so glad 😁
Same, mine told us that we should never eat McDonald’s 😂😂😂😂😂😂
But that is at a studio right? Professional schools where you only dance all day are different then a studio you take classes at.
@@alies.6035 that's even worse than telling people to be underweight 😂
In my studio, weight doesn't really matter, just as long as you're not shoveling in McDonald's chicken nuggets everyday it's alright.
as much as this sounds scary, the people on dance or ballet stay on because they love it. the passion for dance sticks with you, and i can't imagine what will happen if i stop dancing.
It is a part of life for dancers
I had to because of sevear injuries. It broke my heart and future, my dreams. Giving up a passion is so hard and it keeps itching even after 20 years. I my head I still dance. The hard realaty hard to cope with when now you can barely walk by times.
I know this is out of the topic but is that seungmin😀
@@nadia7.327 yes :)
it sounds funny but if i stop dancing my mental health will get really bad because ballet is the only thing that is keeping me going
I really enjoyed my life as a dancer / I enjoyed each class making each movement better than the day before. Feeling that I improved putting the maximum energy and enjoying the piano music in the class. The presentation was always an extra gift. Living and feeling the dance every day is the happiness of a dancer's soul.
'A dancer dies twice; once when she stops dancing and this death is the most painful.'
-Martha Graham (1894-1991)
🎞 Anyway, watch the documentary, 'Every Little Step' (2009), when you get the chance.
This movie follows hopefuls for the last decade's past Broadway revival of 'A Chorus Line.'
The late Marvin Hamlisch is featured in the film, reflecting on the original, game-changing show he helped to create.
🍿 Enjoy!
Marlon Moncrieffe gene kelly comes to mind after he lost his legs I believe?
Stupidity
I think I know a video in ballet from alltime10s
Marlon Moncrieffe True story, I quit dancing 4 years ago because of school and I needed to pass my exams, still miss it today
I still do a bit of dancing at home and I enjoy doing that, but it’s a bit different from what I used to do.
seeing these comments makes me feel appreciated for being a dancer when usually im being told its easy and not a sport. its more than a sport its an art form.
It's a calling, an art form- which is much more than a sport.
Absolutely an art form! I saw the most amazing video of this very old former Prima Ballerina for the NY Ballet company in a wheelchair and she also has dementia now... tiny little thing.. 🦢 her nephew played music from Swan Lake for her and she started dancing so intensely with her arms I thought she might just float out of her chair and start dancing with her feet too... talk about having "muscle memory"! It was absolutely stunning and beautiful....it brought tears to my eyes. Dancers should totally be appreciated 🥿 I assumed they were..so it was sad to hear that's not always the case
Its Art
OMG It’s clearly the HARDEST of all the athletics!
*I'm a ballet dancer.i've never had any eating disorders,and only have 2 blisters a month 😃 my mom and dadb always helped me to care of my foot and always make sure i have a balanced diet,Although i have annoying little siblings;They always support me💖*
You must be still young its good that your parents are helping you but it'll get worst once your legs and feet get more blisters and bruises
And? You’re the exception and it doesn’t invalidate the fact that the vast majority of other ballet dancers aren’t as fortunate.
While I agree with Menual and believe that there are dancers who don't get injured, i know that those who do are actually not taking good care of themselves. They're not icing their feet or doing physio, or the exercises for preventing injuries. They might just skip warm ups and stretching and get straight into choreography hurting themselves. It not only takes skill to become a ballerina but also a lot of care and knowing your limits and sticking to them. There's no shame in turning down parts of a choreography or a role. Some dancers do get carried away with their passion and forget to take care of themselves. That's when they end up in trouble.
I am 83 started dancing age 4 danced in two major companies. From age 12 to 15 I danced in pantomime and musical in London England. I only had minor injuries all career. I the taught for 25 years and qualified for Pilates. I think this report is exaggerated.
I'm not convinced you're eighty three; your punctuation's like a twenty five year old's.@@maureenconsolati6333
I’m a dancer myself and yes it does hurt but it’s FUN
I agree
Is that Yeontan in your profile picture I see? 👀👀
i agree and its worth my time since i loved doing ballet when i was 5
I agree
I guess that's why they say "pain is fun " or "beauty is pain" because ballet people are so PRETTY AND SKINNY LIKE HOWW
Rhythmic gymnastics isn’t ballet
AYO PIERRE finally someone pointed this out!
I don't think anyone was saying it was.
Why were they showing it tho?
I was looking to see if anyone else noticed.
Nope, RG takes WAY more skill than ballet.....
Her "pilates" was just a girl rolling out her muscles. None of this is accurate
hehe, but pilates teachers nowadays snitch all sort of stuff and call it pilates
@@CourageToB true
“A dancer dies twice” couldn’t describe it better. I was a professional dancer but then had to stop dancing completely because of an knee injury. It literally felt and after 2 years still feels like I died that moment.
Now It feels more like existing that actually living.
I understand the loss and the sorrow, i used to sing but my voice no longer is what it was. My advice is to look at things from a different point of view. We can all live very many different lives, you can find a new one and be whole again. Yes, you will always miss the dance but you deserve to more than just exist.
I felt that comment... ouch.💔 Sorry. There's still so much out there... you can find another life passion... I just hope you stay positive and keep trying new things until you find it! ❤🦢
@@YTistooannoying well yes we can turn our lives around find a new thing, blah blah blah and all that inspirational bullshit but how to even do that? when it's not just singing, it's ballet your whole life is wasted for just learning ballet, never having time for anything else and now you cant do ballet, have no grounds or experience to start over, n have to do a new thing and still support yourself somehow
@@YTistooannoying oh n unlike singing which impact is just your voice n probably affecting you mentally, a ballet dancers body would also be physically wrecked, their feet their body so whatever they wanna do after they still gotta deal with that ....
I completely understand ... dancing gives sometimes almost a sense of flying with our body and senses, a sense of complete freedom and lightness ...
I feel like I’m seeing much healthier looking bodies on ballerinas these days compared to the 90s.
Yeah, we are finally getting over Balanchine's "ideal image" for dancers.
True dancers nowdays arent as great as before as well
@@juliasilvanadavis9332 but at least dancers today are healthier
Julia Silvana Davis no they are good your just a body shamer
@@juliasilvanadavis9332 they are as good you just have an unhealthy image
Ballet dancers are super humans. I eventually left the field at age 24 and didn't know what to do with myself. I felt lost. Eventually, even after having 2 children, I still plunged down to 98 lbs. I still struggle with having an appetite, but overall ballet taught me extreme discipline. I wouldn't take back the experience. Thank you ballet for making me who I am today 💎💖💘💫
👏 You're awesome!
which Jackie =
was? a?
professional
female. we are no were no
dancer?
had no
Dancing
STudio in London ....never
@@andrealuisecandido1154 Sorry, I couldn't comprehend your reply. I will say I have practiced yoga for over ten years now and that has kept healthy and was a wonderful replacement for ballet. Still stay flexible and fit. 🙏
Biscuit ballerina walked so that this animated dancer could run
EG HAHAHAHAAAA
omg 😂😂😂😂😂
LOLL HAHAHAHA
why are you mixing ballet and gymnastics guys
Read my comment?
Ikr!! They’re so different even though they’re both incredibly hard and beautiful. It kind of pisses me off though, like if you’re gonna make a video about ballet, at least do your research well enough to know what’s NOT BALLET.
@@y-jk1674 calm down, they just made a small mistake their not gonna get everything right 🙄
Yeah and it hurts a lot
I saw that particular piece independently of this video, and they said it was to show how much harder the ballet dancers have to work than the gymnasts do. It was lauding the dancers, basically, and showing that the life of a ballet dancer is not an easy one.
The people that made this vid doesn’t know that if your a professional working with a company, they will pay for your pointe shoes lmao
I mean...that changes just one thing, the rest of it is way more serious.
But how many pointe shoes do you pay for before making it to a company?
Ikr lol
Exactly 😅😂
@@caliv0608 they are talking about professionals. Also most dancers in training don’t burn through point shows as fast as pros do
A lot of professional ballet dancers don't pay for their shoes. At least the ones that belong in companies. Dunno what happens with freelancers.
I was thinking the same thing. Professional companies supply the shoes
And the younger dancers in the school get the used/unwanted shoes from the professionals
PaddyPaws mmmm not always. in my school we have to buy our own shoes, and even if we get them from the professionals who don’t need them anymore we still have to pay them
Lol yeah
Glad to hear you dont have to pay for your shoes , was beginning to think it's for the snobs only to dance
I took ballet lessons as a child but my dad took me out once learning the teacher would only call me Elephant rather than my name, kinda funny now but it’s disgusting really
I already like your dad
OH MY FUCKING GOD WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THAT TEACHER?!!!! I'm so sorry you were expose to such a thing.
Most ballet teachers are narcissistic, these types of stories are not uncommon in the ballet world truth be told 99% of these ballet teachers couldn’t dance to save their lives let alone teach.
RUDE
well, you don't expect a child to always be skinny, most children have that little belly
I was a professional ballet dancer and what she is saying isn’t far off but most of us took it in stride as this is the way the ballet world works. I feel blessed to have had that career and experience. It was definitely worth the sacrifices.
Hello 🤗
Former professional ballerina here. Most of this was very accurate! I had to retire when I was in my 20s simply because I couldn't afford to keep up with it anymore. My last performance, I danced the role of Princess Aurora for the Sleeping Beauty and when I took my final curtsy [and several curtain calls], I was crushed. For months I felt like my entire world was just GONE. Even now, nearly 12 years later, it still eats away at me.
I wasn't professional but I understand. The thought process is: If I'm not a dancer, what am I? And nothing else can ever compare.
Reading your comment 2 years later, Elizabeth, and wondering how are you doing. 46 yo former ballerina here and... Ehem🙄.
Best wishes 🧛🏻♀️🖤
There's something about ballet 💖 It's's dang hard! Super beautiful too. 💗
Not just ballet. Former ice dancer here. I took my last bow at US Nationals. I still feel sick thinking about it because i had no clue it would be my last one. An injury not long after forced me into early retirement from competing. You put so much time, energy, money, and passion into dancing. Your whole schedule revolves around it, and then suddenly, it doesn't, and it can be difficult to figure out what to do with yourself later on. I'm STILL trying to figure it out. It doesn't help that I have no access to a rink in this town. :(
"many commit to ballet when they are as young as 3"... I mean considering the age, wouldn't it be more correct to say that the parents are committing them to ballet...
Sofia 01
Sort of, but the kid wouldn’t stick with it if they don’t like it. You can tell which kids like it by how they act in class. If it isn’t for them then their parents don’t keep them in it.
parents put us in ballet, but ultimately, it's the child's choice whether they want to continue. some quit early on and dont purse a career. so our parents just put us in as a extracurricular, but it's the dancer's decision whether to stay committed to it or not.
But why? Parents want the Kids to be poor? They should commit them to something else.
@@martinakuticic6620 that's not up to a parent to decide. sure they can map out a plan just in case, but a kid should be able to make their own decisions. some of us find our commitments through extracurriculars, others find it through much exploring through high school and sometimes even through college. besides. ik its said a lot, but money should never be a factor in a career choice. if u aren't happy in what u do, then what's the pointe ?
haha. made a ballet joke. ignore me.
I started ballet class at 5. My choice, no one had to push me ! I didn't become a professional, I didn't have the body for it, but still took classes until I was 18. I loved it, pain, hard training and all. Had my body been the right shape, I would have tried to make it my profession. As it is, I am now 57, and I have started ballet classes again this year, after a 39 years gap, and I still love every minute of it ! Even my teacher told me she saw that every class I take, I look happier.
So yes, it's a grueling calling, but if you truly love it, you can't escape it and you will dance, no matter the costs.
I danced for over 20 years. I have some health issues because of it. My lower spine and hips as well as tendon issues in my ankles. I wouldn't change it for anything though. I loved it!
😯 Whoa...
But I'm glad you would never give up what you loved to do.
Jill - glad to hear you maximized your passion! No regrets! ❤
I'm a dancer and this honestly was a little annoying and btw a lot of these things sound way worse than it actually is!
if you are part of a production, do they pay for your shoes? I feel like if you are in a company, that should be part of your compensation. it's different from musicians who can keep the same instrument for years. Going through 2 pairs a show while getting paid less than $30,000 a year sounds infuriating .
Karen Chynoweth I’ve heard that if you’re in a company they do pay for the shoes!
I agree! There is pressure to look a certain way, depending on the teacher or directors... but up to each dancer to choose his/her own path. I would like to see more money/support for dancers and the arts though.
@@chynowethk If someone is a part of a ballet company their shoes are usually paid for.
But there are ballet dancers who only work per production. An example being when the English National Ballet does really huge ballets in the round and have to hire extra dancers. Those dancers may get shoes while in the show, but when they are auditioning and going to class everyday they pay for those shoes themselves.
But, at the same time, it is all true. That's saying something.
Why are there so many shots of artistic gymnasts in this clip?
It's rythmic gymnastics, also train ballet a lot , train hours of ballet and hours rythmic gymnastics. To become a rythmic gymnast need to train ballet
Nah you don’t. They do different training, even though some part of it is similar.
@@JJ-uj3oc hi JJ, I know that, I follow both, I just thought that it would have been possible to make this video with only ballet dancers in it. I do see the similarities in both and have nothing but admiration to the ones dedicated, I just found it a little odd.
idk man all i know is that it's a commercial
@@JJ-uj3oc It can also help one's success at those gymnastics if one knows how to spall "rhythmic." Have a nice day.
Im also a ballet dancer and my teacher know how bad eating disorders can be so no matter our size or weight she loves us and encourage us ✨✨ we’re so thankful for her
I had a friend who was a ballerina. She told me there's no day off. Every day that you don't exercise, practice and rehearse is a day you're going backwards. She paid for a lot of her training by teaching. She told me had never been on vacation, had a date, been out for pizza or slept late. I think of that whenever I go to the ballet - but I still go.
Same
oh ....
nice i had only danced few monTh
ThaT was
all nice
eXperiance
“Dance isn’t a sport.” Um ya think that now?
Elizabeth Vanderen but it’s not
Sylvie Stafford youuuuu.......
Sylvie Stafford ask siri-“what is sport?”
ninachoo V It’s more than a sport. It’s a performing art that requires you to be athletic.
No way
Exactly people are in my class are like “oh you can’t dance” and “oh you will never become a good dancer” if my class is reading this you don’t know the blood, sweat, and tears I have gone threw so I can to be a professional ballet dancer
1:16 watching this animation do pique turns gave me anxietyyyyyyyy. Im not even going to talk about the others 😂
Lauren Karuzas lol same
i hated that
Ikr it's so bad 😣
i know eek
It doesent even have turn out :p
Why are they showing rhythmic gymnasts? That's not ballet.
I don't know lol
That’s ballet....they sometimes use ribbons
@@irevana5773 Ballet doesn't do backbends or use hoops--That's rhythmic gymnastics 1:03.
I was wondering lol
Clearly the editor dosent know the difference between Rhythmic Gymnastics and Ballet 🤐
I started training at 4 years old for ballet, currently I'm 10, It's seriously so hard, we have to train while being on our menstruation. I have anxiety performing on stage can be bad, I saw a girls from older classes being rushed to the hospital be cause they had malnutrition, my instructor only told us to eat healthy and not to put pressure on ourselves. my advice is to be healthy and don't pressure yourself. love to all ballerinas out there
The Title: The Realistic truth about ballet Dancers!
The Actual Video: ** plays rhythmic gymnastics**
When I was a child I wanted to be a ballet dancer but my parents could never afford to send me for lessons, but I have loved ballet ever since, watching the beautiful ladies glide across the stage has always thrilled me. I had no idea of the brutal regime these dancers go through, the cost to their bodies and also to their wallets, thank you for this insight it has indeed opened my eyes!
"Hard realities of ballet"
*plays only rhythmic gymnastics clips*
just came to this video to see if it’s accurate since i’m a competitive dancer. it is true that it’s better to start early, it’s painful, your life becomes dance, and you don’t have a lot of time for friends/hanging out. and yes, dance, especially ballet, can get VERY expensive. i’ve been dancing for 11 years. but not a lot of ballet teachers want you to loose weight. that’s just her teacher. like if course, many teachers want you to be thin but many teachers don’t make you not eat or anything like that. and point shoes are extremely painful. but it’s worth it because dance is so fun. some studios give pointe shoes for free. ballet dancers go through 2-3 pairs per dance/performance day. a lot of dance studios grab men who want to dance because male dancers are pretty rare. ballet is definitely stressful but it’s really fun and the pain is worth it. many of these comments are like “i’m never dancing” or “i’m never being a ballerina” but like they don’t realize how fun it is. these challenges are worth/needed to become a professional ballet dancer because you NEED the training to work professionally. i’ve been doing competitive dancing for 7 years and i’ve been dancing for 11. it’s super fun and yes, it’s challenging but so is life. dance is worth the pain because it’s so fun.
I Understand, but what happens when you stop dancing and you come to realize all that you've put your body through? What if you get seriously injured and it affects your life after dancing? Is the fun really worth the pain and overall stress of dancing? It's your opinion, I personally don't think I'd ever be able to give up that much but if it's what makes you happy then go for it ig.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
I am very flexible and I have been doing dance for the last 2 years it is not ballet it is just dance I have tried points before and they really are not as painful as I thought
We stan
The word is "lose" not loose
everything about weighing dancers is not true is today’s day in age. at most ballet schools, have scales are banned because of the stereotypes of ballet
There are still companies or schools that do weigh their dancers.
In my school, we had a weekly weigh in. we also have to submit a diary that lists down all the food we eat and how much we exercised outside class.
This is one of the reason I stopped dancing ballet when I reached 2nd year college (I was a Finance Major while being a scholar in the dance school).
I had eating problems and always thought that I was not good or beautiful enough.
Dont get me wrong, I love ballet and was extremely passionate about it. But it started affecting my health and I questioned myself if it was worth it.
Once I reached 3rd year college, I quit dancing, focused on my Major and got a corporate Finance job.
But despite the ups and downs of dancing, I will always be thankful for ballet. 😊
That is not true. Weigh ins happened in every institution I was in growing up, and continue to be a problem. We are no closer to fixing any stigma and pressures with eating disorders now than we were 10 years ago. Many places will say the weigh ins are to monitor for unhealthy low weights but that's never been the case in my experience.
The average dancer is borderline anorexic
It all depends on if your lucky enough to go to a school that has updated, well educated teachers.
At the London Ballet School (for children), applicants have to send pictures of their parents to prove they won've get fat at a later age
Get your facts right, Wendy Whelan always did the Arabian Dance in Balanchine's the Nutcracker, and was never the Sugar Plum Fairy!
Lol
Is there a worldwide shortage of ballet footage that you had to use another sport in this video?
Amen, I'm a huge rhythmic fan but I thought that was incredibly disrespectful. It's like the creator just googled " flexible dancer" and pasted every result.
Yeah that's rhythmic gymnastics lol
Was there really a reason for this comment?
@@gabib4966 yes there actually was.
Is there a worldwide shortage of people who don’t comment passive aggressively?
Not a hater I really love this chanel but, I was a rhytmical gymnast (probably did not spell tha or this right) and some clips are rhytmical gymnasticks clips dont know if you knew that or not tho
Katja Ristanovic I know that was aggravating me as a dancer
@@sofiapetro7819 well not everyone knows there's a difference
Same
Me as a former rhythmic gymnast got also a little aggregated 😔
I love ballerinas. What they do is amazing, and the work to get noticed it’s very competitive. I really do applaud people who put years into ballet💜
im a dancer and correct me if im wrong but I thought that the professional companies like ABT supplied pointe shoes to the dancers for free
that is correct, most companies do.
they do
They do, but you've got to buy your own for all those years of training that allow you to be good enough for a company to hire you and pay for your shoes. A pair or more per performance when you're 16 or 17 and not supplied by a company adds up real fast. They were talking about the cost of becoming a dancer, I think
they do.
This is sadly all true. I'm now nearly 35 & every day my heart breaks that I can no longer do the 1 thing I lived my life to do. I have bad hips, knees & ankles. My back is the worst though, I'm receiving monthly steroid injections into my lower back to ease my pain. I had never put my ballet & need for everything to be perfect together though.
Wow.. I didn't know this. Thank you for opening uo and sharing your story and experience. I hope you'll recover eventually. Now that you told me this I'm grateful my parents didn't put me in ballet like I desired, but in tenis instead. And I won't put my children in it as well. Thank you. Sending lots of love Kat
I love to watch Vera Allen dance. She died at an earlier age and had a lot of problems due to her dancing. I believe she also lost a child because the toll that dancing did to her body.
@@amykolterman3744 multiple miscarriage & being unable to conceive naturally unfortunately is very true for a lot of dancers due to body stress, low bmi & diet.
What exactly has happened to your spine ? Do you have disc protrusions or anything ? I'm sorry about your pain and struggle
I hope you are in counseling. What I hear a lot of former or current ballet dancers saying is how they are in chronic pain but cannot stop or are unwilling to stop. That is called addiction.
1. thank you for your sacrifices. 2. I was at the Los Angeles premier of the documentary on the Ballet Russe a number of years ago. It was fun to see the former professionals receiving the recognition that they deserved. Hopefully, you will take up Argentine tango when you retire. I have had partners in their 90s. Most dancers who stay with dance do migrate to tango. With a good leader, you can be dancing and enjoying it within a few minutes.
the animated background dancer during transitions kills me. oh my goodness
ITS SO TECHNICALLY WRONG IM DYING WATCHING IT
Also when it started to creep on to the screen I thought it was a spider and almost threw my phone
It pained me
Looks like me dancing lol… I guess I look worse than her haha
they are making ballet look so bad I have been dancing since I'm 3 and pre-professional since I'm 10 and it's not that bad
We're talking about effects in your 30s and beyond.
@@nevinkuser9892 I wonder if some people just try out/ or do balle for a short time.. I am a teenager by the way.
@@lilymaydais1680 same here
i’m 11 and it’s pretty hard for me, let’s say if you learn ISTD, it isn’t that hard, ISTD isn’t so professional. If you learn NATD it would be bad, Specially tap. It gets worst at IF (Intermediate Foundation)
@@l1zxyyy I'm in Inter F. Which syllabus are you doing because for me it's not that hard...?
not everyone has eating disorders. we are working out ALL day, i eat SO MUCH FOOD
That’s why I stopped ballet and tap and started hip hop.... let me tell you they praise imperfection and I love it!
I miss it so much.. I remember my last show.. very emotional time 🥺.. I still put my point shoes on and dance around the house.. so that makes me happy 🤗
Dance your heart out ♡
I also remember my last show
So I found a ballet school and I took cheer and we got second place at a competition. But now I wanna try ballet and even seeing this I still won't give up. Never give up on your dreams ♥️❤️
Dance is a passion. You just cant imagine life without dance once you're that committed to it. I had to give it up due to an injury that required intensive surgery on my hip. But even on that injured hip before the surgery, I continued to dance. I wasnt required to, I wasnt a professional, but dance was my everything.
Hi sorry to hear about that, I was curious about what you thought caused the injury?
@@naturalwill8 It was a repetitive motion injury that was exacerbated by an incident in which someone put lotion on their legs in the main dance room. Lotion wasn't allowed because it causes the floor to become EXTREMELY slippery. I dropped into my center split and my right foot hit the lotion. I went from easily sitting into my split, to slipping into it faster than my muscles could handle. I heard a pop and went shortly after that to a doctor.
Why are they showing rhythmic gymnastics clips..... Thats not gymnastics
That clip of the men in the class hurt my eyes becausr they weren't pointing their feet. no hate though just caught me off guard.
^^ its in a seperate vid where a dancer tries to teach non dancers ballet
It was from anothe utube video I think with the try guys or crossfit athletes or something lol
Pointe shoes cost way more that 65 dollars. They will most always cost over 100 dollars.
I've watched some videos from the company Freed of London that claim one company spends like 100k only in shoes...
Mommy Bellydancer honestly they last a decent amount of time if you’re not using them when you’re not supposed to.
Yeah, professionals go through more than one pair a show. They go through them so much because they are working so hard in them and sweating which breaks them down faster.
She said from 65 - 120
Yeah, I wear Gaynor Minden and I have to import my shoes from the US into Canada because I do not wear a standard size. I dish out around $230 CAD total just to get the shoes. Luckily, ballet is just a hobby for me so I need to buy them once or twice a year, depending if I'm doing an exam or a performance.
No one:
Literally no one:
The talko: bALLeT sLipPeRs
Man, your making ballet look bad.
Well, it LOOKS nice, but...! Obviously not everything IS nice. But only talking about flaws will help getting rid of them. Being silent won't change anything!
@@Freiya2011 but unfortunately some things in ballet can’t change
@@shirleyneustein5186 well, abuse by male dancer CAN change, bad payment CAN change, and respect towards the dancer's body MUST change.
@@Freiya2011 it really should be changed
Runners struggle with the same issues. Shoes are expensive and have a limit on the maximum number of miles, lots of body issues (eating disorders and or psychical injuries), constantly pushing themselves, a lot of hours spent training or recovering.
Ballet is a life style and not something you absolutely HAVE to do unless your dedicated. And in the end you just tell yourself “it was totally worth it”
yes it was and still is
Figure skating is a lot like this, too. Perfectionism (plus talent) is what gets you to the top but it can also destroy you.
No offense they literally made ballet look bad
Yes they did make ballet look bad because they didn't mention Michaela DePrince!
I think ballet looks bad because it shows a dark truth :/ The same thing goes for figure skating, where young girls are pressured to lose weight to extreme levels.
Melissa A that’s not completely true. Ballet isn’t actually that bad, it can actually be very fun, if you’re into it. And you’re just talking about the weight thing. And what they’re talking about is horrible, yes. But, it’s is very rare. Most ballet is not like that. As people dance at different studios, most studios are actually very kind. And mainly doesn’t care. Ballet teachers are usually very supportive. So no, this is not the “ real dark truth”. It’s the PART of the truth. Which is very small. I am not denying that was happened to them is messed up, but that rarely happens, where you’re acting like that ALWAYS happens, which is doesn’t. And the opposite. Dance should be a stress free activity. And everyone already knew that you got messed up feet, if you do ballet. This is not the truth at all! And this was not recent. You have to understand this rarely to never happens!
rockin girl life MSP so true!!
Rossabelle Foxie it’s not making it look bad it’s bringing facts to light that you may not know it’s the dark truth
I’m not a dancer but a figure skater. I used to have an eating disorder because my old coach. I got help and better now. I’m happy to say that I’m 135 pounds and 5 7’. I’m now in a healthy environment. Physically and mentally.
Glad to hear that you are in a better space now❤ thank you for sharing your story with us.
Figure skating, dancing, acting, can all easily result in eating disorders, sadly. Glad to hear you're in a healthy place.
Sounds a lot like the story of a friend of mine (also a figure skater) 😨❤
Good to hear you are on the road to recovery. Sending you lots of love and hugs. Please, keep it up.
46 yo ballerina here, fellow-on-ice. I hope you know how bloody lucky you are. Bravo, hun, you did it! Best wishes 🧛🏻♀️🖤
We were introduced to ballet very young, I was 4 and remember being exhausted after pre school and then ballet. I wanted to play outside or take a nap. Our parents said if we didn't want to continue, we could stop. I'm so glad they let us be kids, just being outside in the sun playing.
I use to like ballet and I kinda do it now. People keep telling me to improve but I'm fine for how I am
It's so sad that dancers are paid so little for working so hard. They put all of that energy and passion into it, only to be paid a bare minimum. I have a huge amount of respect for dancers, because they have passion and they work hard for what they want. I also do ballet, but don't aspire to be a professional. To all of those amazing ballet dancers out there, you work so hard and are amazing!
Thank you so much! I appreciate that. At my ballet company, I get paid 1000 per show, and the male dancers get paid 10000 per show. Bruh- I work so hard and I get paid so little. Once again, thx for your comment.
They don't know what they're talking about. I do ballet en pointe and I feel like they have no dance experience at all whatsoever. THIS BOTHERS ME!!
Does being on pointe hurt? Bc im in my 3 level of ballet and in the 4th level we have pointe
@@fionarylee762 it hurts a bit but not as much as they show it to be
When I was a dancer I lived and breathed dance. I only hung out with dancers. I only partied with them...and mostly that’s all we talked about. We were healthy, however, and diligent about it. We ate together so influenced a healthier lifestyle. The thrill of dancing Is about as thrilling a flying . Going in for a class , not being able to do something that 1.5 hrs later you CAN do is unbelievably rewarding. Always building in an accumulative way is like a magnetic pull. There ARE advantages being of certain born physical traits: longer limbs over shorter torso, for example. The inside of the thigh is to be no wider than the front side (we turn our knees and legs out. Things like that. It used to be a far more strict body code.Cristy Copeland helped by breaking through that glass ceiling. God bless her for that.
Misty Copeland, but yeah
Ballet may create social life issues outside of class, however because of the amount of time you spend in class with the people your age, you still have a social life, just with your fellow pupils/colleagues
it keeps teens out of trouble. You don't have time to go to wild parties because you are always at rehearsal.
yeah lol. and those people that u go to class with will stay with u for most of ur life. life long friends right there.
I used too go to ballet lessens when I was 12years old
@@sharpshooterblue8767 Until they're competitors for a job, you mean...
@@karinefonte516 im not a competitor. so not really. dancers are some of the nicest people ive ever met. mostly it's a constructive criticism thing in ballet classes. cant say for companies, though. im not in one.
I am an old school gymnast and a ballet dancer. Used to train under old school Russian teachers. The fact is that nowadays people want to achieve something, they want to be the best but they want it to be easy. Well, if it was easy, everybody could do it. You can choose between becoming somebody extraordinary or an average Joe who hangs out on his/her phone and goes to bars with his/her friends. If you look at extraordinary people in sports, you will notice a pattern. They go the extra mile. For the outside world, it is a sacrifice what they do. If you are really committed, living it and being passionate about it, it is a part of your life style. In your eyes, you are not missing on anything from life. Discipline, love, passion, focus and organization is what it takes to become great in sports.
yes ballet is so incredibly difficult and i’m exhausted and hurting all the time but ballet is my life and i don’t know how i could live without it. there’s no other feeling like getting on stage and doing a variation you’ve been working on. i really appreciate this video and how it shows how hard this life is.
im sorry but did anyone cringe at the clip at 4:14
the girl literally hops up on her box, exactly what proffesionals are NOT supposed to do (nor should anyone lol)
I am in such awe of ballet dancers. Nothing is more beautiful. It's so sad they have to suffer for their art. But as a painter (figurative) I understand what it's like to work for so little.
As a former dancer I have to say 'Yes', this is true. Now that I'm older my shoulders are blown out and my back fractured and I have huge bone spurs in my feet. I can no longer dance the way I used to, but it doesn't stop me from moving. I believe Life is Movement.
This is all true BUT if ballet chooses you, if you are on fire for ballet, none of this will stop you from going all in for ballet. No one does this because it's easy.
our teachers don’t encourage us to lose weight and I know what I’m talking about because I’ve been dancing ballet since I was 3
Furthermore reason why I love them so much. They work so damn hard and put alot of pressure on themselves to make ballet gorgeous and look easy. They are truly strong and courageous people to make such sacrifices to reach their goals.
Wish there were more people like you.. I get bullied at school for doing ballet.
Yes it is true, but passion is passion, myself i want to become a professional ballerina and i will take what it costs, but i will maintain my health before anything
Wonder what would happen if men and boys were required to wear toe shoes?
I have always loved watching ballet dancers, (the women) I have a totally new respect for them. Keep pushing ladies.
Yet they manage to make it look so effortless as they gracefully glide across the floor. It truly takes dedication to continue with all these obstacles.
I did ballet when i was 2..
I quit at 4
I hated it 😂
Same i got suspended at 4
Ballet at a young age isn't the same
Ballet and dance when your little is kinda boring but as you grow older you seem to start loving it💖
Ik
I love ballet
As a formally trained creative dancer, I retired from dance twelve years ago. Now, I find myself, verging into sport competitive dance in Ballroom, Latin, Swing and Cabret competitions. I'm redefining my role in the dance world and looking forward to doing so.
Usually when you’re in a ballet company they give the shoes for free
When I was 4 i was told i would never be a professional ballerina because of my feet . Honestly im kinda glad but for 4 year old me it as devastating and I saw ballet as life. Luckily professional competitive karate isn't to straining and when your only 12 you can still already be on a competition team with all ages . Although it's straining and you often get injurys , it is a different activity to ballet and there are separate pros and cons
Im a dancer and half of it is true. Back problems are very common and eating disorders are quite normal for us. Getting praised for loosing weight is very true and the more you lose weight, the more positions you get put in.
Edit: but there are many good sides too. It's a beautiful dance and I helps express feelings. That's what I love about ballet 💜
You're mixing up ballet & rhythmic gymnastics footage.
I am watching this while I’m breaking into my new pointe shoes
Lollll
Lol me too
this is why people were so angry with Kendall made a photoshoot about being a ballerina instead of hiring real ballerina for the shoot
When people say ballet isn’t a sport
😠
Same tho. It's so annoying.
We only say garbage like "ballet is a sport" in the States because art isn't respected. Why don't we work toward changing our crass culture to one that actually respects and values the arts instead of falling into the awful snare of insisting one of the greatest art forms is a silly sport? I find insisting that dance is a sport to be highly degrading.
I read it in school and it kinda is because you have to stay healthy just like athletics
It is a sport kinda
@@AYammieEqineMoto you really said "you don't spend enough money so it's not a sport" that logic makes no sense
Growing up I was seriously into gymnastics and ballet. I loved it. When I realised that it led to my anorexia and alcoholism, my mom got me out. I still have self esteem issues to this day.
What they don't understand is that, yes, there are negatives and high demands to dance/ballet but there's a reason we choose to dance. No one is forcing us to dedicate ourselves to this beautiful art form and no one is stopping us from leaving if we wanted to. But for some people, including myself, stopping would be like losing a piece of my identity.
Pointe shoes usually cost bout 100$ per pair and company’s usually pay for them
And a professional ballerina can go through a pair of shoes a day, depending
Elizabeth Swihart yeah