You’ve nailed the ballerina bun, but now it’s time to get you into a tutu and start ballet.
Have you ever admired the graceful lines and beautiful atmosphere of the ballet? Seen the seemingly effortless leaps and turns of dancers lighting up the stage to amazing classical music?
Professional ballet dancers often start their training at 5 or 6 years of age and commit their life to pursuing excellence in their art. However, if you are looking for a new hobby or love an excuse to get dressed up, it’s never too late to start.
Ballet began in the 1500s in Italy as royal court entertainment, and has since become a hugely popular worldwide dance style. Today millions of people do ballet and it’s becoming a major part of popular culture. Just look at author and movie star Misty Copeland, America’s first African American prima ballerina, an icon who stands for diversity and acceptance in the ballet world.
Anyone can enjoy the beauty, discipline and health benefits of ballet, regardless of your age, fitness, experience level, or body type. Maybe you danced when you were younger or regret never giving it a try. Adult ballet gives everyone the chance to escape everyday stress and exercise your mind and body.
Here are 5 reasons to slip on your dancing shoes and start pirouetting:
Great Workout
Ballet is a great workout. For those bored by the treadmill or intimidated by weights, ballet works out your whole body to improve your strength, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness.
You’ll be surprised to find how many intrinsic muscles work hard to create even the simplest looking movements. Doing plie squats and even pointing your feet (called ‘tendus’) use your own body weight to strength your core and tone your muscles.
Ballet dancers build long, lean muscles, particularly in their legs and feet. Barre classes have even built their philosophy off of ballet as a low impact, full body workout with amazing popular success.
Flexibility
You might think you’ll never get your leg as high or be as bendy as prima ballerinas, but that doesn’t mean you can’t improve your flexibility. Ballet incorporates dynamic and static stretching in almost every aspect of its exercise for your whole body.
Relieves Stress and Improves Mental Health
Having fun dedicating yourself to a new activity offers you the opportunity to escape from the stresses and worries of everyday life.
Ballet allows you to have fun and focus on improvement. Dance is a non verbal language like cognitive therapy – it allows you to express yourself, releasing the feel good hormone Dopamine. This positive attitude and deep concentration in class is a great form of stress relief, which you can take into your everyday life too.
Inclusive environment
A huge benefit of starting ballet later on is that everyone is doing it for the same reason; they love to dance. Since ballet is all about self-improvement and celebrating the art of dance, it’s a positive environment that encourages everyone to give it a go. It’s a great way to make new friends and build a new network – especially as an adult.
Confidence
Ballet builds confidence. Ballet is an art that takes dedication and perseverance, which makes it all the more rewarding when you make improvements. Being happy in what your body can do improves your self confidence, making ballet hugely rewarding.
So click here to see what adult ballet classes are near you.