Guest goingforsatin Posted March 29, 2003 Report Share Posted March 29, 2003 I am at a stage in ballet where steps, routines- everything is becoming VERY complicated and requires immense skill. I was born a very short stocky person, with stubby legs, and am about 10 lbs overweight. I have improved immensely over the past year (simply from applying myself to dance) but now it seems as if my body and brain are fighting against me both genetically and mentally. I am fully aware that I will never become pro, nor do I care to spend 8-10 hours a day dancing and exerting myself physically. I just would love to be able to use my body better. Does anyone have suggestions on how to overcome these obvious limits? Dance is pretty cruel because like all sports- it's based on how your body looks, your physical strength, and having a kinesthetic mind. I just feel sort of handicapped at this, but I love it so much! Quote Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted March 29, 2003 Administrators Report Share Posted March 29, 2003 Ballet is an extremely difficult art, as it demands a somewhat unique physical structure to do it at a professional level. You cannot change your basic structure, however, you can certainly learn to dance well enough to enjoy it and you can continue to progress in your training with a lot of hard work and good training. While your basic structure might keep you from a professional career, it should not necessarily keep you from becoming a well trained dancer. However, it is not a "natural" art form, therefore it is not something that everyone can do well. I'm not sure what your limitations are, but there are some things that can prevent one from being able to learn and progress. Coordination is one, lack of physical strength or the muscles needed to maintain alignment, feet that do not allow a good demi pointe position, hips with no rotation or flexibility, etc. And of course the quality of the training is always VERY important. Some things can be overcome, and some cannot. This may sound cruel, but it's not intended that way. You said that you have limitations, but then I can't know what they are, other than short legs and a stocky build, which would not necessarily prevent one from learning and dancing well. Are there other things that led to this post? Quote Link to comment
Guest goingforsatin Posted March 29, 2003 Report Share Posted March 29, 2003 I'm just not a tall, very thin, willowy person. I have a hard time balancing in arabesque, and some things I just cannot do because of my short legs. Quote Link to comment
balletstar811 Posted March 29, 2003 Report Share Posted March 29, 2003 Ms. Leigh, you said that you must have a good demi-pointe position. I can keep my legs rotated and all but my feet just are not naturally beautiful. Will this prevent me from becoming a professional? As long as I have everything else, can it happen still or no? I cannot imagine doing anything else for a career and I am willing to anything to make it happen! Quote Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted March 29, 2003 Administrators Report Share Posted March 29, 2003 I'm sorry balletstar, but I really can't say without seeing you. Feet are very important, and it's pretty hard to make it professionally without good feet. They don't have to be "banana feet", but they do have to be good enough to look pretty in pointe shoes and achieve a high demi pointe in soft shoes. How well one USES them is very important, and of course they do improve, but the degree of improvement will depend on so many things, including where they were when you started. Quote Link to comment
balletstar811 Posted March 30, 2003 Report Share Posted March 30, 2003 I understand that good feet are quite essential, but as you may have read in one of my previous posts, there is a dancer in Pointe magazine who is a principal with NYCB, and she did not have nice feet. I guess it can be done, but it probably decreases the odds. I am so mad I wasn't born with gorgeous feet! It would be one less thing I need to improve. My feet look beautiful when they are in pro-arch, but when they come out of that, and especially the left, they are nothing extraordinary. I guess there is no way you can judge because you have never seen me, but when my friends and I strech eachother's feet, mine do touch the floor with a straight knee, I just cannot get them there myself. *Sigh*. I will keep working and pray they improve before it is time for me to audition. Quote Link to comment
Guest jane Posted April 21, 2003 Report Share Posted April 21, 2003 I know the feeling. What exactly must a dancer have physically that makes her so aesthetically pleasing. All I have heard is that she must be dangerously thin! Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted April 21, 2003 Report Share Posted April 21, 2003 No she doesn't. And what is considered the ideal dancer's body changes with every generation of dancer. In general, an evenly-developed body, longer legs than torso, and relatively long arms are usually always safe bets. Excessive thinness is just as bad as excessive stoutness, and have more devastating results physiologically and psychologically. That's why we don't discuss diet or weight on these forums. Quote Link to comment
Guest jane Posted April 22, 2003 Report Share Posted April 22, 2003 good, because I wouldn't stand a chance if it were true. Its a shame I was misinformed, I hope other girls don't get the wrong idea as well, because it could get dangerous. Quote Link to comment
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