Today is

By: Ikedi Ani-okoye.

Ballet clothing

Most can agree that ballet is a beautiful variety of dance, but it is also a delicate art form. The performers are often times telling a story with their movement, and the costumes, or clothing they wear play an integral part in the unfolding of the story. During practice, the ballet dance wear is usually less delicate and more practical, however, during recitals, and performances, dancers can go on stage in anything from an all black body suit, to very complicated skirts, tops, and leggings!

The type of dance known as En Pointe, is unique to ballet and has very specific shoes that resemble classic ballet slippers until you see the toe. There it is flattened and very sturdy so that a dancer can stand literally on their tip toes. Dance wear has certainly come a long way and there are several varieties offered to fit any needs.

Performing Ballet

Ballet is a lot harder to do for many reasons. Some of those translate into calorie burning, and some don't. Ballet is an art. It engages the spirit, mind and body. I'm not expecting that many swimmers don't experience the same thing, but I'm speaking about it as a performing art, and an art that requires soulfulness for an audience to want to watch. No offence to swimmers.

Grande pile Ballet move

To do a grand plie, which is one of the most graceful ballet moves, you will begin at the barre. You want your back facing the bar, and one arm resting out on the barre. You want your feet to be together at the heels, toes pointing away from each other. The further you can point your toes the better.

If you can't do it completely, where your feet are completely pointing away from each other, don't worry. With all ballet moves, practice makes perfect. Next, you will perform the grand plie by allowing yourself to bend your knees slowly. While you bend your knees, your arm that is not on the barre, will move slowly up until it is straight out and in line with your shoulder.

Demi-pile ballet move

To do the demi-plie ballet move, which is one of the most graceful of ballet moves, you will bend your knees. You want your knees to go out and above your feet in line with them.

You don't have to go all the way down, but you want to keep your heels together. As you're slowly bending, gracefully move the arm that is not on the barre up. You want to give the illusion that you're floating.

CONCLUSION

"Often ballet teachers find the specifics of training the foot strength needed for pointe work difficult as it came naturally to them. However for many people, the isolated strength needed in the feet must be specifically trained, especially nowadays, as many children who grow up in cities spend little time bare foot on different surfaces, which naturally trains the tiny intrinsic muscles of the feet. Understanding how these muscles should work when dancing is imperative in a long, injury free, career in dance." - Lisa Howell