Classical Ballet-Not Only for Professional Dancers

• Published in: Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis. Gymnica Vol. 37; no. 2; p. 40
• Main Authors: Derka, T, Lehotsky, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Fakulta telesne kultury 01.06.2007
• Subjects: Canada, Ontario, Algonquin Provincial Park, Swan L
• ISSN: 1212-1185

Dance is characterized as a conscious effort with the aime to create visual performance in space by continuously moving body through a series of poses and pattern. A theatrical work or entertainment in which a choreographer has expressed his ideas in group and solo dancing to a musical accompaniment with appropriate costumes, scenery and lighting (more on www. abt.com). Classical ballet in which the style and structure adhere to the definite framework was established in 19 super(th) century. The famous classical ballets are for example Swan Lake, The nutcracker and The sleeping beauty (all by Tchaikovsky), Coppelia (by Delibes), Giselle (by Adam) and La Fille mal Gardee (by Herold). Theory of the classical ballet is given in Beaumont and Idzikowski (1966), McFee (1992) and Vaganova (1969). Ballet dancers have some things common with athletes, in that their instruments are their bodies and both require special training regimens. But not everyone can be a dancer. The first for the career is aesthetical point of view. The professional ballet dancer's body type is identified by (1) proportions (small head, long neck, shortened torso, long, thin and lean legs), (2) loose joints (3) turnout of the leg (4) slight knee hyperextension (5) bow-legged and (6) foot shape. The personality of ballet dancers were studied by Bakker (1991). For the serious sportsman (not only gymnasts, figure skaters and athletes) who wants to achieve their highest level of stamina, flexibility, agility and form are ballet "exercises" an additional part of training. Ballet training added to their workout regimen aids in all these, plus, functional balance, body alignment and injury prevention. Classical ballet training usually begins after warm-up exercises at the bar which dancers use to help balance. The exercise consists from plies, tendues, port de bras and battements. The second part - centre work contains port de bras, turns (pirouettes - en dehors, en dedans) and jumps. Technical ballet is used in conjunction with speed and agility drills and stretching techniques. An athlete's needs are different for every sport. A typical program for athletes is set up by using a variety of valuations to determine the athlete ability and strength levels in the following areas: range of motion and flexibility, speed, agility, endurance, control and functional balance art.