Basics

Some of the basic principles of ballet and dance in general. Information on things or terminology that might not make sense to people outside the dance world and the path to becoming a principal dancer in a company.

students of the School of American Ballet

Basics

For some pretext or if any terminology was confusing in any other post I'll define a few things. Within a ballet company a dancer can have many roles/positions. First they may be asked to join the company as an apprentice then they may be asked to formerly join the company as part of the corps de ballet. These dancers participate in the sections with many other dancers not as a named role, but always in a group big or small. The next highest role is a soloist and then a principal dancers which are the highest ranking members of the company. The difference between soloists and Principal is that a principal dancer can perform solos as well as pas de deuxs A pas de deux is a ballerina and her partner doing a partnered piece usually principal members. Additionally music does change the kind of ballet. A waltz is done to a six count piece of music while any other is done to an either count piece of music. In a ballet class different types of music with different tempos or counts are used for different steps at the barre in the center or across the floor. music with a constant tempo can easily be used for tendus but might not want to be used to grand battements or frappes since those either take more time or are usually very quick. A song with a constant tempo can still be used for fast or quick tendus by counting beats (1, 2, 3,...) or every half beat (1 and 2 and 3 and...). Some steps or across the floor combos can utilize music that changes from slow to fast tempos in order to create an engaging combination while still doing the steps that might need to be held or take time to perform.

The Pointe Shoe

To be a really successful dancer begin dancing en point at 10-12 years old. A single pair of pointe shoes cost $90 on average and should be replaced every two months for beginners and as soon as three weeks for advanced dancers consistently dancing in them. Pointe shoes cannot be used once they become "dead" or when the shank and box (sole and toe area) become worn down and if continued to be used they can cause injuries to the ballerina's ankle. So, along with ballet being an extremely tasking and complicated art it's also extremely costly once the dancer gets to a better level. Point shoes have to be specific to an individual's feet or that also could cause injury. Most professional dancers have custom point shoes which can be even more costly, but essential.

Miami City Ballet school class

Pathway to Principal

Even a couple years of practice can give a young dancer a leg up on the professional pathway since most should join a pre professional ballet school during their teens. 7-8 years old is the optimal age o begin ballet training. SAB will take dancers as young as six, but most begin taking dancers at around the age of 12. If a student does not move to go to school at a professional school they may still attend a six week "summer intensive" program at any school that offers them. Once the dancer is nearing the age of 18-20 they should be trying to enter a professional company as a corps member or apprentice. They can either: audition, be invited from the school to their corresponding company, be invited to join the school and also apprentice the company through attending the company's summer intensive for many years. Once within the company it can take a corps member many years or seasons to be promoted to soloist or principal member. All member of the ballet company train for 8-10 hours a day with breaks. Mandatory classes then rehearsals for any parts they have been cast in are a daily requirement.