The Ballet Bible

Can dancing help improve my coordination?

My coordination between my arms, eyes, legs, etc. is quite poor. Can dance help me?

Free Ballet Guides

The launch of onlinedance has been a great success.

I am so happy with the response from my loyal readers and subscribers that I have decided to create some free downloadable mini-guides for you as a thankyou for being a part of balletinfo.com and the new onlinedance.

While thinking about what would make a great guide I thought… Why not just ask you what you would like to see.

So, simply add your comments to this post on what you would like to see in a mini-guide for ballet.

I look forward to reading your requests.

Thanks
Anita

Classes for adults

I am a 22 year-old female who would like to start taking beginner ballet classes, both for the enjoyment (I’m a classically trained pianist) and to shape up (not overweight, just need to tone). My problem is nobody in town offers adult ballet classes. There are only two studios in town. The first said she will let me participate in their advanced classes with the highschool girls, but I’m not sure I would get enough attention or be able to keep up. Or I can go to the other studio and take tap or clogging, neither of which appeals to me. Do you have any suggestions? I do own a couple of ballet videos I practice regularly with at home.

Thank you!

What are the benefits of ballet on your muscles and joints?

What muscle groups are strengthened and which joints are made more flexible as a result of ballet?

Are there exercises to get your knees to go back for that straight line look?

My daughter has trouble with getting her knees back when she dances.
They seem to pop out. Any quick fixes?

When do you know you’re ready for pointe?

I’ve been doing ballet since last September, 11 months. I’ve been doing a lot of work on my bad arches and I’ve been working on strengthening my ankles.

How good of an arch do you have to have to be on pointe? And how do you know when your ankle is the strongest?

~Tiffany

Ideally, What should a dancer weigh?

There's been some great comments on this site about not worrying about being overweight and to just do what you love doing. But just out of curiosity, what is the ideal weight for a dancer?

All the other girls think I don’t have the right body for ballet

I have just started going to a dance school and all the girls there have really good figures. They think i shouldn't do ballet cause I dont have the right body for it and that I'm too fat for ballet. I don't know what to do. I don't want this to get in my way of what I love to do.

Does body shape really matter and will it affect my chances of getting in to anything good?

I have very bad articulation in my toes. How can I improve?

My toes stay in an almost straight line with the rest of my foot when in the pointed position. I want to be on pointe next year but I dont think thats going to happen in my current situation. Most of the other girls in my class have very flexible feet. Does anyone Know of some good stretches to help improve articulation in my toes?