What is the purpose of a dance belt?

[jimpickles]

Sorry to be posting so much. I'm enjoying my chance to catch up on lots of things since finding out about this board.

 

So may I ask: what is the purpose of a dance belt - and do I need one, since I feel quite happy with tight underwear.

 

What I've seen on this site says:

 

1. Padding, so you dont get kicked by your partners in lifts (but I dont do lifts in ballet, so thats no problem).

 

2. Support - but I get enough of that from my underwear and leotard for even the most strenuous activities.

 

3. (and this is the one that is a bit worrying) - protection from hernia during lifts. Now it seems to me that the best protection from hernia is not external support, but to have really strong abdominal muscles, and to use them a lot. They are in just the right place to take the strain, are always with you, and there's a danger that if you are relying on an external support, you will not use some of the strength you already have in your abdominal muscles. I take great care to keep my abdominal muscles strong and to use them.

 

If any of the very helpful people on the group could tell me the answers, and whether I am wise/unwise not bothering with a dance belt (which I am very happy to do without), I'd be very grateful.

 

Many thanks,

 

Jim.

[Mel Johnson]

Just as the very best support for a long bridge is the strong internal construction of the piers, trusses and other interior load-bearing structures, often it's not a bad idea to put some ancillary support in the form of buttressing or other external load-bearing construction. What you wear to class is largely dependent upon what you feel comfy with, and what your teacher considers appropriate classwear. Young students need guidance in this regard. With adults, it's slightly less critical.

[jimpickles]

Many thanks for that, and for your very quick reply. I'll ask my dance teacher whether what I'm doing is inappropriate.

 

Jim.

[davidg]

I personally believe that dance belts are a kind of male torture device, right up there with itsy-bitsy spike-heel shoes for women. I have gotten away without wearing one regularly for many years, although I never even think of performing without it. It is also my experience that leotard with (high-cut) underwear provide sufficient support; however, remember that many men don't wear leotards, and thus the dancebelt becomes more crucial.

 

If you get kicked in a lift, only an athletic cup will save you. Could be a good idea, if you're partnering beginners.

 

For lifts, you need not just good abs, but also good muscles in the lower back (across your torso from the abs, so to speak). They can all be developed through ballet training, but certianly having strong abs to begin with doesn't sound like a bad idea. (However, I think you should probably avoid lower-body weight training).'

[balletboyrhys]

i've always had to wear a dancebelt. i spend about 8 hours a day in one so i guess im used to it. dancing without one just kind of feels weird and wrong. id suggest trying it just because you will have to wear one SOMETIME in your dance training.

[Guest redtights]

I personally believe that dance belts are a kind of male torture device

People complain about dance belts, but I've never understood what is considered uncomfortable about them. I always wear one in class, and it feels fine to me. Just wondering, what's uncomfortable about them?

[jllaney]

Wearing a dancebelt for extra support during lifts isn't a bad idea but nine times out of ten when I get whacked down below it's invariably from partnering a piroeutte. The girls knee is a perfect height to inflict pain on the man who has short arms and needs to be a little closer to partner a turn. And the padding of a dancebelt most definately helps when you catch that stray knee.

If I'm partnering, which is quite often, I don't leave home without it.

[davidg]

When things go wrong partnering, it is often possible to assign blame. Sorry to say, but if you're getting whacked on pirouettes, it's your fault. You need to stick your butt back a bit more, and lean over your hips a bit more, so there's more room for her knee. Not the vertical position we learn at the barre, but it's what you do for partnering.

 

(In contrast, if you're getting whacked on shoulder sits, it's her fault.)

[Mel Johnson]

And if you get kicked in the nose, there's a LOT of blame to go around!

[jllaney]

DavidG

Nothing in my post implied that I was "assigning blame" to my partners.

[Mel Johnson]

Who said anything about "partner"? Ballet master for not supervising closely enough, musician for playing music out of tempo, lighting guy for blinding dancers...oh, there is a LOT of blame to go around when that happens!

[davidg]

Jllaney, I know what you mean. "Blame" is just my shorthand way of figuring out which things I can fix by changing my own actions, and which things I have to watch out from others about.

 

I ONCE made the pirouette mistake onstage. Ohh boooy... and I couldn't even grimace, I just had to bear it silently until I could get offstage.

[Mel Johnson]

Almost like an old Bill Cosby standup routine. "You must remember not to touch...certain areas...of your body."

[BarreTalk]

when I get whacked down below it's invariably from partnering a piroeutte.  The girls knee is a perfect height to inflict pain on the man who has short arms and needs to be a little closer to partner a turn.  And the padding of a dancebelt most definately helps when you catch that stray knee.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

At 5'7" I end up partnering girls who are taller (in their pointe shoes) frequently.

 

When doing finger fouettes learn to stand so her knee hits your hip. It might hurt but not as bad.

[Hans]

At 5'8" I've partnered many girls much taller than I, and have been hit "there" precisely once--ironically, by a very tiny girl when I was first starting out. So there's no need to be hit anywhere, during supported fouettés or any other type of pirouette.