Football players and Ballet

This blog is for all the football players out there and for guys in general. Guys seem to think that dance takes no effort what so ever and that they could easily do it with no problem. Wrong ! Dance is equally as difficult as football. And I know that no matter how many times I say it guys still won't believe me. But maybe this will help, some football coaches actually make their players take ballet classes. In fact, this topic has been a cover story for Sports Illustrated a few years ago. Ballet and football have more in common then people think. Psychologists have found that professional ballet dancers get hurt just as often and suffer just as serious injuries as athletes in contact sports. The main reason football players take ballet class is for balance and strength in the legs. Also, flexibility required for ballet may help prevent injuries involved in football. So if you are a football player, taking a ballet classes once in a while wouldn't hurt. It would benefit you and the way you play game.

Is Ballet a Sport or an Art ?

Many people ask the question is ballet a sport or an art ? Well, I say that ballet is both a sport and an art. Most people do not agree that ballet is a sport, but it clearly is ! My ballet teacher always tells us, "If you do a ballet class properly, you get just as good as a work out then if you were to go to the gym." Ballet works almost every muscle in your body ! People often think that because ballet dancers are trained not to show effort and be graceful, that they aren't putting in any effort. That is the craziest thing I have ever heard. Ballerinas work extremely hard, thats why they are in such good shape. It is harder then most sports !
Along with ballet being a sport it is also an art. Classical ballet requires technique, focus, and dedication. Practice is key, to really learn and be good at an art such as ballet, you have to practice, practice, practice. Ballet is all about muscle memory. If you train your muscles correctly everyday you take class, eventually they will remember. My teacher also says, "You are clay and you have to mold yourself the right way in order to be a dancer." This is completely true. Most people, or should i say guys, think ballet is a piece of cake. That is completely false, and I hope reading this helped you realize this.

Problems with Pointe Shoes !

Pointe shoes are what every young ballerina dreams of wearing. But once you have them you dream of taking them off ! Pointe shoes are made almost entirely by hand. They help dancers to stand on the very tips of their toes. The box at the end of the shoe surrounds dancers toes and helps them balance. This box is made out fabric, paper, and strong glue, which makes them very uncomfortable. Pointe shoes are also very expensive. They can range from 30-70 dollars a pair depending on what brand of shoe you wear. And unfortunately these shoes don't last very long if you wear them often. Professionals may go through 3 pairs of shoes in one show!
Pointe shoes also cause many problems for dancers, from blisters to abnormal toenail alignment. Blisters are very common in ballet dancers. When you are rehearsing for hours with only a small amount of padding between your toes and a hard box, you tend to get a numerous amount of blisters. There is not much you can do to prevent this. Abnormal toenail alignment may also occur. Bunions are when the first joint in your big toe becomes swollen, it is also know as "lateral displacement of the toe." This is extremely painful and very common among ballerinas.
Though there are many problems that come along with wearing pointe shoes, if you want to be a balllerina you have to deal with them. Most dancer's have a passion for dance and these problems do not even faze them.

So You Think You Can Dance !

        "So You Think You Can Dance," is an extremely popular reality TV show.   It was the #1 rated  show in summer of 2006 for adults 18-49.   "So You Think You Can Dance," gives young adults the opportunity to compete for the title of America's best dancer.  They train with award winning choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Shane Sparks, and Sonya Tayeh.  Auditions are held every year in major cities, and dancers with all types of dance backgrounds are encouraged to audition.  "So You Think You Can Dance," also has spin off versions of their show in many other countries such as Turkey, Australia, Israel, Norway, Greece, Poland, etc.  This summer 18year old  Jeanine Mason received the title of "America's Best Dancer."  She is a Miami native and specialized in contemporary style dancing.  The new season is expected to be a big hit.  You can watch "So You Think You Can Dance," every Wednesday night from 8-9 on Fox.