How to become a ballerina lessons for beginners. Body ballet for beginners: graceful steps to an ideal figure


Photo: m24.ru/Alexander Avilov

The world of ballet, so sublime, unknown and magical, is closer to us than it might seem. Thanks to the Ilze Liepa school, everyone can do it - you don’t have to have professional skills. Practicing this art will teach you to hold your back, instill a culture of movement and internal discipline. And if a child has real talent, then the school will help him reach career heights. M24.ru will talk about how little ballerinas are taught and what comes out of it.

“Princess Diana studied ballet all her life, so seriously that she did jumping. By her posture you can understand what this gave her. The graduates of the Smolny Institute could always be recognized when they were sitting at the table. And the girls who study at our school look completely different: an inspired expression on their faces, a different sense of themselves in the world. They continue to remain girls, without advancing their development externally and internally, which, it seems to me, is very valuable. It’s not for nothing that they say: “If you straighten your back, you straighten your soul.” Therefore, ballet classes are an opportunity to refine your appearance,” says the school’s founder, Ilze Liepa.


Photo: M24.ru/Alexander Avilov

Girls, and even boys, can enter this wonderful world as early as 2.5 - 3 years old. It is from this age that they are accepted into a ballet school, where they study until they are 15–16 years old. There are no strict exams: everyone is accepted into the school. Children usually study in the morning according to the early development group program. In addition to ballet classes, they also have general education subjects: English, Russian, mathematics, rhythm, drawing and dance. In the evenings, children aged 6-12 years old who are already in high school come: they only dance for two hours a day, at least 3 times a week.

Professional ballet or ballet at home?

It’s worth starting with the fact that it is necessary to study professional ballet in special educational institutions. If it seems that the question of how to become a ballerina at home implies subsequent professional training, and then getting a real job in the theater, then you will be a little disappointed. Why? The fact is that the ballet market is a very competitive place. They practice ballet from a very early age. Moreover, modern troupes consider only those candidates who fit certain physical parameters.

However, this does not mean at all that those who have not attended special training since childhood can say goodbye to the dream of ballet forever. After all, the main thing is not only ballet shoes, but also skills and abilities that you can learn on your own. You can dance for your own pleasure, practice in non-professional groups, and even record and post videos of your own performances for public viewing!

https://youtu.be/gbRL37E7R7Q

What does a ballerina do?

It's time to tell you what ballerinas actually do.

  • Ballerinas spend most of their lives near the barre. Since a good result requires appropriate effort;
  • First, preparation for the main work takes place, that is, stretching and warming up. And then learning how to stage the act itself;
  • Working with the scene. The artist's learned numbers are shown in various theaters and concerts.

If a dance ensemble gives 100%, it has the opportunity to tour not only the cities of Russia, but also other countries.

What are the benefits of body ballet?

Body ballet not only helps you become a ballerina at home, as most students want, but also has a number of other undeniable advantages.

Here's what you can achieve with regular exercise:

  • Weight restoration and weight loss. During training, the pulse of the student jumps to 100-139 beats per minute, and it is this mode that starts the process in which excess fat begins to be actively burned.
  • You can strengthen and tone your muscles. One of the main advantages of body ballet is that it does not contribute to an increase in muscle mass, while the body of the practitioner gradually becomes toned. Classes are aimed at training all major muscle groups.
  • Strengthening joints. Very often, body ballet is recommended to people who have suffered injuries and are now on the way to restoring motor activity.
  • With regular exercise, breathing and the functioning of the cardiovascular system begin to improve. At the same time, improvements will also affect the circulatory system, and tissues will receive an additional flow of oxygen.
  • Among the numerous exercises for ballerinas in body ballet, there are many that place special emphasis on stretching. So the student has every opportunity to improve his flexibility.
  • Many ballet fans love this art form for its grace and elegance. After just a few choreography classes, you can feel an improvement in your own gait and posture, and the desired grace will be visible in all movements.

Children's ballet

To make your daughter a ballerina, you need to enroll her in classes early enough. People begin to master classical ballet at the age of 4-5, it is important not to miss this moment. If you try to enroll a child from 8-9 years old in a choreographic school, you will be asked to choose a different direction. At the same time, at any age you can start practicing for yourself. In this case, the girl will not become a ballet theater dancer, but will receive the following benefits:

  • stately posture;
  • flexible and graceful body;
  • high physical endurance;
  • internal discipline;
  • ability to tolerate physical discomfort;
  • a unique charm inherent in all ballerinas.

There are also disadvantages that parents need to consider:

  • classes in private studios are not cheap, and free schools do not operate in every city;
  • The girls put a lot of energy into training;
  • they take a lot of time, this is a huge load that needs to be combined with lessons in a secondary school;
  • during serious activities, professional deformation of the legs occurs;
  • in adolescence, ballet classes become associated with ambition and a high level of emotional stress. This begins to manifest itself from the age of 10-11; not every teenager is able to overcome such difficulties without consequences.

Even if your character lacks the spirit of competition and desire for primacy, you will still need the support of your family. A child will not be able to study ballet if his parents are against it or simply do not share his interests.

Necessary conditions and attributes for studying at home

Having dealt with the question of how to become a ballerina at home, you can move on to the next question - what is required for this.

  • Firstly, it is the availability of free time. One training session will take at least 1 hour.
  • Secondly, these are comfortable clothes. It is not necessary to run for a tutu; it is enough to have a comfortable tracksuit or any other clothing that does not restrict movement.
  • Thirdly, these are shoes. Ballet shoes are for those who know how to use them. For beginners, ordinary Czech shoes or light sports shoes are suitable. You can switch to pointe shoes after special training.

About competition

black swan, ballerina, confession, dressing room

The intensity of intrigue among these 5-6-year-old brats is amazing: in the fight for the coach’s attention, they beat each other in the locker rooms, dirty and cut suits, throw away equipment, and rejoice at other people’s injuries.

I loved it when I did something better than other girls. Oh, what happened at the performances! And cut pointe shoes, and throwing away a suit, and tearing a tutu. I caught one by the hand when she was pouring glass into my shoes.

The craziest thing is to add dichlorvos to your makeup. There is only one dressing room, but such creatures can pour everything into everything. At least acid.

Where to begin?

You can practice body ballet either independently, at home, or under the supervision of special trainers in a fitness club. If the first option seems much more attractive to you, you should choose special programs for beginners. Usually these are detailed instructions and tips that will help you properly tune in to the right direction and teach you how to avoid the most common mistakes.

Classes at home are best done in front of a large mirror, and the ballet barre can be replaced with an ordinary chair. It is worth noting that a chair, although a good analogue of a machine, cannot always provide the necessary support. If there is a sofa/chair/table or any other strong covering nearby, it is better to lean on it sometimes.

So, if you want, start doing body ballet as soon as possible and experience all the joys of this art firsthand!

Ballet is an art form that allows you to express yourself through movement. In addition, it is an academic dance that is based on a number of basic elements. If you'd like to try ballet, you'll first need to learn the five basic hand and foot positions. After this, you can move on to plie and relevé. Take a beginner class to learn how to do it right, and practice at home to quickly master the basics of ballet.

Let's sum it up

In this article, we were able to answer the question: who is a ballerina, and also told us what people who devote their lives to ballet do. And they shared the positive and negative sides of this profession.

Our article will be useful to parents whose children go to dance classes and to the children themselves who are interested in the profession of a ballerina.

You might be interested in the article: Who is an astrologer, what does he do, a description of the profession

https://youtu.be/YCot_QcwhPc

Steps

Main positions

    Start from the first position.

    The first position is considered the easiest in ballet. Bring your legs together so that your heels touch. Then turn your feet out to the sides so that they are perpendicular to your body. Don't spread your heels. The feet, calves and thighs should be turned out until the feet form a straight parallel line with the shoulders. The final position will be the first position.

  • The entire leg from hip to foot should be turned to the side. Ideally, your feet should form a straight line with your heels connected in the middle.
  • The first hand position looks like you are trying to hold a beach ball at stomach level. The brushes should be placed at a distance of about 10 centimeters from each other and slightly tilted towards the face.
  • Move to the second position.

    The second position is similar to the first, only the heels should not touch. Spread your legs hip-width apart. The feet should be turned out to the side, just like the legs.

  • The second hand position is also similar to the first, only you need to open your hands. Perform the first position with your hands, and then open them from the elbow to the width of your feet apart. Slightly tilt your hands towards you.
  • Move to third position.

    To move to third position, you first need to be in first. Turn your feet out and, without changing position, place one foot in front of the other. Touch the heel of your front foot to the instep of your back foot. The calf of the front leg should be directly in front of the calf of the back leg.

    • The third hand position is a combination of the first and second. Perform the first position with your hands, open one hand to the second position, and leave the other in the first position.
  • Move to fourth position.

    Get into the first position, then place one foot in front of the other without turning your feet. The front foot should be 10-13 centimeters in front of the second foot, and the heel of that foot should be directly in front of the big toes of the second foot.

    • Unlike other positions, in the fourth position the feet do not touch. Positioning your feet at the correct distance can be difficult. Study photos of fourth position on the Internet and watch video tutorials to understand how far apart your feet should be.
    • To do the fourth hand position, do the first one first. Raise one arm above your head, maintaining the elbow position. Turn your hand palm down and hold it straight above your head.

  • Move to fifth position.

    In the fifth position, the feet are turned out in the same way as in the fourth, but stand together. Get into fourth position and bring your feet together, leaving 1-2 fingers space between them.

    • As in the fourth position, in the fifth position the legs should also be turned out. Don't bend your knees. Stretch your knees and don't relax them.
    • The fifth hand position is a continuation of the fourth. Perform the fourth position with your hands. Raise the hand that is now below your head so that it assumes the same position as your other hand. The fingers of two hands should not touch - leave some space between them.

  • Ballet moves

    1. Do a plie in first position.

      Plie is one of the basic elements of ballet. Get into first position. Slowly bend your knees until your knees are over your big toes. Hold this position for a second, and then smoothly and quickly return up. Complete the movement in the first position.

    2. Move from position to position through the tandu.

      Tandu, or batman tandu, is a movement that allows you to move from one leg position to another. Get into fifth position, straighten your legs and tense your muscles. Press one foot firmly into the floor, bring it forward and return it back.

      • When you return to fifth position, place your foot on the floor, then move it out to the side. The knees should not bend. Returning your leg to fifth position, place it behind your supporting foot.
      • Complete the tandu. Press your foot into the floor, then walk it back behind you and return to fifth position. Now the supporting leg will be in front, which will allow you to perform tandu with the other leg.

    3. Stand on your toes to perform a relevé.

      Relevé is a basic movement that almost all beginners learn. To perform a simple relevé, stand in first position and grasp the machine with one hand. Tighten your calf muscles and pull yourself up to stand on your toes. Then slowly lower yourself down.

      • Releve is often performed on pointe shoes, but beginners should not try to stand on their thumbs. Transfer all your weight to the part of your foot that is located under your toes. This position is called demi-pointe.
      • Over time, you will be able to combine plié and relevé. Do a plie first and then rise into a relevé, using the strength of your legs as you rise.

    4. Try learning how to sauté when you're ready to take the leap.

      Saute is often used as an exercise for beginners, which allows them to master simple and low jumps. To perform sauté, stand in the first position. Sit in a plié, push your feet off the ground in an upward motion, and jump up slightly. Straighten your legs in the air and sit in a downward plie.

      • Often during classes several hundred are performed in a row. Practice performing at least 5 sautes in a row to learn how to exit from a plie into a jump and return to a plie. With this jump, it is extremely important to return to the plie as this movement softens the impact and protects the knees.
      • Transition from plié en sauté in the same way as from plié en relevé, only with a little more effort. This strength will allow you to lift yourself off the ground.

    5. “Sote” translates to “jump.” This jump is often combined with other positions to create other types of jump (such as the saute arabesque).

    Working on skills

    1. Buy or make a machine for home training.

      A barre is a simple bar that helps you maintain balance while warming up and when learning new movements. Set the bar at a comfortable height at waist level or slightly higher. You can buy the machine online and in some sports equipment stores. You can also make a mobile machine from polyvinyl chloride tubes.

      • Most beginners need a stable barre as it is essential for developing balance, working on technique, and developing muscle memory.
      • The machine often has two crossbars. The lower one is located at a height of 80 centimeters from the floor, the upper one - 100 centimeters.

    2. If you are not ready to buy a machine for home practice, find out if you can study at your school without a teacher. Some schools allow you to come and study on your own for a small fee.
    3. Learn to do port de bras every day.

      Learning hand movements, called port de bras in ballet, is usually given to beginners as one of the first exercises. Try to rehearse these movements every day. The movements include not only the main positions, but also the following:

      • An avan (forward). During this movement, you need to extend your arms in front of your body, slightly bend your elbows and round them. Turn your palms towards your body and bring your fingers together, but do not let them touch.
      • An o (up). Take an avan and then raise your arms above your head without raising your shoulders. Maintain the position of your elbows and do not let your fingers touch.

    4. An ba (down). Gently and clearly lower your hands down and hold them in front of your hips, moving them out of the an o position. Turn your palms towards your feet, maintaining the position of your elbows and the distance between your fingers. Return your hands to the an avan position and repeat the sequence for at least 5 minutes.
      • Take classes with several teachers to evaluate their teaching style.
    5. Keep looking for “your” teacher. Ballet is a challenging class and you will likely need to work with the same teacher for a long time. Find someone who will encourage you and give you challenging tasks.
    6. Even if you have already done other dances, you should take a beginner's class. Ballet is a very technical form of dance, so you may not have the necessary training. Your teacher will tell you if you are ready for more challenging classes.
    • Try not only to rehearse movements, but also to read and watch more about ballet. The more you know about the technique and theory of each movement, the easier it will be for you to perform the movements.
    • Do not give up. The path to becoming a ballerina or ballet dancer is long. Don't expect quick results.

    Warnings

    • Don't try to get on pointe if you are a beginner. Pointe shoes are dangerous for inexperienced dancers. Your teacher will tell you when you are ready for pointe shoes.
    • Don't force yourself into positions that your body is not yet ready for. Some movements and positions require long-term work on muscle strength and flexibility. Give yourself time to develop muscle memory, otherwise you may get injured.

    En Pointe is a ballet studio in Moscow for beginner adults. We have created the ideal environment for exploring classical Russian ballet, modern choreography and new wellness programs with dance elements. Classes are held in small groups or according to an individual plan - you can choose the most comfortable option and learn the basics of ballet with pleasure.

    Classic and modern trends

    Classical ballet

    - one of the most complex and beautiful dance formats, it develops plasticity and endurance.
    Putting on pointe shoes
    is an integral stage of learning Russian ballet on pointe shoes.
    Power stretching
    is a wellness program for stretching and well-being.
    Corsballet
    is a course of exercises for perfect posture and strengthening your back muscles.
    Streetlet
    is a mixed format that combines elements of modern and classical dance.

    Teachers are active ballet dancers

    They say that you need to learn a language with a native speaker. It’s the same with dance: you can learn one direction or another only with a teacher who dances himself. Our school's teachers are professional artists from leading Moscow theaters. They not only master the technique perfectly, but also understand the philosophy of each direction. With them, classes become a real pleasure, which helps you stay in harmony with yourself and the world around you.

    Prices for classes at a ballet school in Moscow

    For ballet, as for other art forms, consistency and constant practice are important. For those who want to get acquainted with classical choreography and other areas of our school, we offer one-time lessons. Prices for classes for beginners at our ballet school in Moscow depend on the chosen direction and format - in a group or individually. For those who have already fallen in love with dance, we have different subscriptions - for 1.5, 3 and 5 months. The schedule and number of classes in any direction can be made according to your wishes. Trial lessons are offered with a 50% discount.

    At the school of modern ballet in Moscow, En Pointe, students with any level of training are welcome, the main thing is the desire to move, a love of music and a desire to dance. Sign up today for your first trial lesson, it will cost 50% cheaper than usual. Next, you can choose individual lessons with a teacher or group lessons. It is more convenient and cheaper to purchase a subscription for each type of training.

    The wrong side of the profession: a ballerina who forgives sleeping spectators

    The most interesting things at the Bolshoi Theater happen not on stage, but behind the scenes. For being overweight, for example, a ballerina may be left without a bonus. Besides, artists are superstitious people. It’s rare to find as many signs as they have in a profession.

    Ballet Carmen Suite on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus

    © Sputnik Mikhail Nesterov

    Seven Carmens on one stage: Elizariev resumed the legendary ballet 13

    The leading soloist of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, Irina Eromkina, spoke about the side of the profession that is invisible from the audience’s seat.

    Irina is a prima ballerina of the Bolshoi and a mother of three children. Many ballet dancers find it difficult to decide on even one child, but becoming a mother of three and remaining a prima dancer is a unique case in the ballet world.

    Sputnik’s project “The Underside of the Profession” is about that side of simple and complex work that the average person cannot see. And let the professionals themselves talk about the invisible side of their work. Without our comments.

    Seeing your name on a theater poster is a common thing

    © Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko

    Seeing your name on a theater poster is a common thing

    Banal bad manners

    I can't imagine how you can put glass in pointe shoes. Is it really possible not to notice this? I think these are more like myths. We don't do that.

    Yes, we have competition, and it can only be proven in work. The management handles the roles. The only thing I can do if I like a certain role is to learn it, call my manager and show it. And he, as the boss, will allow her to dance on stage or not. Only our ability to work depends on us.

    Of course, there are grievances among ballerinas. But the same thing happens in other teams. We spend a lot of time in the theater. Of course, there are frictions - we are all human.

    Most often - because of the costumes. When one costume fits several ballerinas, and they can quarrel over who will wear it. But it seems to me that this is more a problem of young people. Because ballerinas of my age, having experience and a certain position, no longer share anything with each other. We have already delineated everything.

    Beauty and grace on stage means many hours of work in the rehearsal room

    © Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko

    Beauty and grace on stage means many hours of work in the rehearsal room

    Much depends on upbringing. Each person comes to the team with his own inner content. Some people consider it normal to walk by and not say hello. But ballet has nothing to do with it.

    Lappo and Sarkisyan have been together for more than half a century both on stage and in life

    © Sputnik / Marina Serebryakova

    Life on Pointe: The Ethereal Art of the Iron Men

    Wash off everything you've built up

    In creative environments, people especially believe in superstitions. I know artists who kiss the stage and wear certain clothes. Some people don't wash before performing.

    I take a shower before the performance, which once caused my colleague to be genuinely surprised: “You’re washing off everything you’ve worked on!”

    Probably, with experience, I realized that this is really a superstition. What you believe affects you. I believe in God. Prayer is enough for me.

    I didn't have any serious injuries. But there were falls, and more than one. Often on some basic movements.

    The ballet tutu in the prima's dressing room, of course, is far from the only one

    © Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko

    The ballet tutu in the prima's dressing room, of course, is far from the only one

    For example, in one performance I had a fight with a partner. He is a negative character. And so he holds me, and I have to break free. I struggled, struggled, pushed away from him, and it seemed to me that he would still hold me, but he suddenly let go of his hands. My legs weren’t moving yet, and I fell on my side.

    There was another case. My partner spun me around in his arms, and on a guy rope, that is, he held me by the armpits. He twisted me and twisted me, and something happened to his legs - maybe he stumbled. He dropped me while spinning and fell on top. The funny thing is that we had to somehow get out of it. And my partner’s legs got tangled, he knelt down, I quickly jumped up and began to play along: “Well, get up, get up.”

    Irina admits that she loves everything in the theater - both rehearsals and get-togethers in the dressing rooms

    © Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko

    Irina admits that she loves everything in the theater - both rehearsals and get-togethers in the dressing rooms

    I myself sometimes laugh because of my falls...

    Of course, anything can happen in ballet - guys twist their legs and carry them off the stage during the performance, tear ligaments and muscles. One soloist was injured - he could not dance further, so he was on one leg, and the second, slightly touching the floor with his toe, slowly left the stage, holding the image.

    And one day, before my eyes, the artist’s foot was completely twisted. This is scary. It took him a long time to get into shape. And after such an injury he returned, this is our leading artist. With what respect I looked at him!

    White or black swan?

    “Swan Lake” is the dream of every ballerina. The standard for all roles. Two sides - good and evil, black and white swan, Odette and Odile. The white swan is all so soft and plastic. And the black one is more prickly, there are completely different hands, different looks, different poses. And, of course, every ballerina dreams of trying it on, feeling it.

    The theater stage is the most prosaic and at the same time the most sacred place

    © Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko

    The theater stage is a prosaic and at the same time sacred place in the theater

    Some performances are complex and some are difficult. Complex performances are those where there is a lot of technique. In heavy ones there are a lot of jumps, you just get physically tired. I can’t say that “Swan Lake” is a difficult performance. In fact, it can be danced without a single jump. But it is technically difficult.

    The “White” act is difficult because it contains a long adagio, and it must be danced when your hands are wings. You don't just have to wave them around. Like a swan, pull it back. In this position, even if you miss your hands for 15 minutes, everything will hurt. And after that, in the “black” act there are so many rotations, fouettés...

    I tried to understand which of the images was closer to me. White swan or black? But she couldn't separate them. I want both. For me it is one whole. Like two halves. One does not exist without the other. You won't understand what the negative is if you don't feel the positive.

    The artist needs applause. Because everything we do, we do not do for ourselves.

    © Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko

    The artist needs applause. Because everything we do, we do not do for ourselves.

    Such a heavy 50 kilos

    Naturally, ballet implies grace. Ballerinas should be thin and fragile. I believe that if you go into this profession, you must understand that ballet is obligatory. Therefore, it’s a shame when ballerinas go on stage, one might even say they’re fat. The feeling that this is... wrong.

    Valentin Elizariev

    © Photo: from the personal archive of V. Elizariev

    Valentin Elizariev: I don’t think the theater was doing well without me

    We have a weight limit and are weighed periodically. This is true. The rules stipulate that a ballerina should weigh no more than 51 kilograms, regardless of height. Because a male ballet dancer should not lift more weight.

    Of course, there are very tall ballerinas. If visually she looks beautiful, if there is a partner who can cope with her, then she will not be required to push herself. But we have a norm, and they persecute us for it. Even the bonus is taken away.

    The theater has a weighing procedure. The management has bathroom scales. They have absolutely the correct weight down to the gram. The office is located behind the wall of the ballet hall, so you can run in to weigh yourself. In other cases, we are warned that there will be a weighing. Usually they give some time to put themselves in order and, for example, deny themselves dinner for several days.

    Ballet implies grace - Irina admits that, like everyone else, she strictly monitors her weight

    © Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko

    Ballet implies grace - Irina admits that, like everyone else, she strictly takes care of herself

    When I was 14-16 years old, I was on diets. And then, probably thanks to the desire to be slim, the habit of eating little came. You can eat everything, but less. You can eat 100 grams of chocolate, or you can eat 20 for fun. Of course, I can afford to eat quite a lot on holiday. True, against the background of a normal diet, this will still not be enough.

    From ballet to business

    Valentin Elizariev

    © Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko

    He returned: how the Bolshoi team met Valentin Elizariev

    I am probably not a picky person in life. My salary is enough for me. But we have people who want to get more. They shouldn't be judged. It's theirs, personal. There are girls who opened ballet schools. The guys generally go into different fields - into the restaurant business, into the spare parts business.

    But those artists who have experienced the stage and leading roles rarely leave, unless due to injury. There were artists who, after some time, realized that they would no longer become presenters, but the desire was great, they lacked something, they left, went to other countries.

    If we talk about numbers, the corps de ballet does not receive the average salary in the country (about $500). Soloists, I think, have it. The presenters will have a higher salary. In general, artists have never had high salaries.

    There are also bonuses, which depend on the number of performances per month. We have a point system. The more important the game, the more points and, accordingly, rewards. Therefore, salaries can be very different.

    Usually a ballerina dances pointe shoes in one performance

    © Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko

    Usually a ballerina “dances” pointe shoes in one performance

    Chinese shoes

    In the Soviet years, all ballerinas were martyrs, in my opinion. Pointe shoes were then made from burlap. The fabric was cut to the shape of the base of the sock. Each layer was coated with glue, which hardened.

    And they made 5-10 such layers. These pointe shoes, when they froze, were very hard. To give them some softness, we hit them with a hammer.

    The insole was practically made of cardboard, which after some time got wet from the moisture of the foot, and you were already standing on your own foot. If you look at old photos, the heels of pointe shoes are very narrow. There the fingers squeezed tightly. Over the years, they began to grow somewhere sideways.

    Now there are new materials, everything is much more convenient. But the profession still leaves its mark. In ballet girls, the bone of the thumb often begins to grow, because it is subject to a large load. She begins to deform.

    Ballerinas call modern pointe shoes truly comfortable, compared to those used by ballet dancers 20 years ago

    © Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko

    Ballerinas call modern pointe shoes truly comfortable - compared to those used by ballet dancers 20 years ago

    Does it hurt to stand on pointe shoes? No, it doesn't hurt. I sometimes compare our feet to Chinese shoes. Have you heard of these? When noble Chinese women had their feet bandaged from childhood so that their feet would remain small forever.

    In childhood, while we get used to it, we have calluses, sore fingers, and insteps. But when you get used to it, you already treat pointe shoes as part of your life.

    Now you can already choose pointe shoes according to your size - according to your toes, the volume of your foot, the height of your heel. They are really very comfortable. It's soft and soft inside. Everything is covered with foam rubber. And the inserts for the fingers are silicone.

    In the theater we all dance in American pointe shoes. They are made of plastic. The plastic is soft but strong. In these pointe shoes I perform a three-act performance - each act lasts 40-50 minutes. And then I don’t feel tired from them.

    For each member of the troupe, the theater has long become a second home

    © Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko

    For each member of the troupe, the theater has long become a second home - a considerable part of their life is spent here

    Perform for one audience

    As a spectator, I often come to the auditorium. I sit down and watch a performance performed by my colleagues. More than once I have seen spectators simply sleeping. I understand that these are people who, most likely, accidentally came to the performance, they were brought, and ballet needs to be understood.

    I am not offended at all and can understand them. I am also not a fully developed person: there are things that are far from me. And if they had sat me down in the same way and told me to listen, I would have toiled and perhaps fallen asleep.

    The artist needs applause. Because everything we do, we do not do for ourselves. When there is applause, it means the audience likes it, it means I’m doing everything right. If an artist does a trick, he wants to show it to people so that they will somehow admire it.

    Ballerinas have personalized pointe shoes

    © Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko

    Ballerinas have personalized pointe shoes

    Our upbringing is this: even if there is only one spectator in the hall, we will still dance with full dedication. Even if he is the only one clapping and expressing his joy. We are ready to create for this.

    Ballerina with many children

    I have three children. There are no such mother ballerinas in our theater anymore. There are only a few such artists in the world. Even a person of any other profession will not always decide to give birth to three, but a ballet dancer has a short life: we have 20 years of experience.

    But pregnancy takes time, then recovery. And if there is no one to help, no one to leave the child with during evening rehearsals, you have to take him with you all the time.

    Irina’s children literally grew up in the theater corridors and even now, when there is no longer a need to take them with them, they still ask to go to the theater

    © Sputnik / Viktor Tolochko

    Irina’s children literally grew up in the theater corridors and even now, when there is no longer a need to take them with them, they still ask to go to the theater

    I can’t urge everyone: let’s all give birth. I love children very much and I don’t regret one bit that I have three of them. I don’t even have the thought: that’s it, I don’t want any more children. If this happens, I would gladly give birth to a fourth one.

    How did I cope? It was different with each child. My eldest son (he’s 20) was often with me at the theater. I picked him up from kindergarten and brought him. My mother later took more care of him and helped. When I became a schoolboy, I became completely independent. He is a very responsible guy. You could always count on him and leave him alone at home. I wasn’t afraid for such things - whether the door was closed, whether the iron was turned off.

    The second daughter is generally a theatrical child. Even now, she will soon be 8 years old, she constantly asks: “Take me with you.” I tell her: “You’re more interesting at home with your friends, stay.” And she even likes to just come to the dressing room, where there is this atmosphere. She's really sick of it.

    There are two ballerinas sitting at the service entrance to the theater - many even greet them

    There are two ballerinas sitting at the service entrance to the theater - many even greet them

    The youngest also has a desire to go to the theater. But she is of a completely different character. She loves my mother very much and always asks to be with her. She is four years old and has been to the theater only a few times. It seems that three children are mine, but all are different, and each one has a different path in life.

    I don’t mind if someone continues the dynasty and goes to ballet. It has a lot of complexity, but also a lot of beauty. For a girl, this is posture, gait, figure. When you go to the theater, you can travel. Many tours to different countries. This is such a big plus, at least for me. I traveled almost the whole world, while still earning money. On the other hand, ballet is a profession that you have to love. Stage, audience, costumes, roles. I like both rehearsing and some kind of get-togethers in the dressing rooms. I love it very much. But in ballet you can’t do it any other way.

    Ballet lessons for beginners

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    Ballet seems to many to be an incomprehensible art that needs to be practiced from early childhood. This is true when it comes to the profession of a ballerina and dreams of becoming a prima ballerina at the Bolshoi Theater. In other cases, with some effort, it’s easy to get involved in ballet and enjoy your own successes.

    Do you want to do ballet? This is a very worthy hobby. Ideally, ballet should be practiced in a special group under the guidance of a professional. But not everyone has this opportunity. In this case, you can study at home.

    At the same time, you need to understand that even if you approach the preparation process thoroughly, read a mountain of specialized literature, watch many useful videos, it is unlikely that you will be able to learn ballet at such a level as to perform on stage. But for yourself, for general tone or to perform at a party in front of friends, practicing ballet at home is quite possible

    .

    About food

    black swan, ballerina, confession, dressing room

    Strictly. Very strict. They could yell at you or beat you with a toy hammer for any weight gain. If you gain 200 grams, jump an additional 60 times. The habit of not eating if you urgently need to lose weight remains. Just eat kefir and cucumbers; eating properly is a problem. Behind you is a formidable teacher who will yell at you for a nourishing, but low-calorie diet, since your stomach will swell and the jump will be worse. A ballerina must flutter. And ideally eat air.

    I’ll tell you the example of those who are prone to obesity. Teas and xenical were very popular. That is, there were no diets at all. Or mono-diets. Buckwheat without salt with water and so on. But this is a huge harm to the gastrointestinal tract. I still don’t understand why ballerinas are not encouraged to eat properly.

    Parents, by the way, are enthusiastically involved in the campaign called “You’re fat!” and deprive children not only of coveted sweets, but also of basic food necessary for a child’s body. And at this age the foundations are laid: bones, cartilage, joints...

    Benefits of practicing ballet at home

    Choreography is one of the highest types of dance activity. Ballet movements were created by the best French and Russian choreographers for performance on stage.

    With the help of ballet classes, you can learn to feel your body, understand music and move with it to the same rhythm. By regularly practicing ballet, you will improve coordination of movements and train the vestibular apparatus. In addition, ballet classes correct your figure, help you get rid of extra pounds, and correct your posture.

    , and sometimes there may be an increase in the length of the legs and neck, which always looks very elegant.

    A passion for ballet is a great way to become interesting to yourself, your beloved man and those around you. For some people, life follows the principle of “work-home”, “home-work”, no hobbies, everything is gray and mundane. Bring new colors and emotions into your life! When a person does what he likes, his eyes light up, and in other areas of life everything begins to improve. The groom or husband will definitely appreciate your efforts, slender figure and acquired grace.

    Pros and cons of the ballerina profession

    Let's look at all the positive and negative aspects of this profession.

    pros

    • For children, especially girls, being a ballerina is a cherished dream. And just this profession can be an excellent opportunity to bring what you want to life;
    • Beautiful and graceful outfits;
    • Performing in front of an audience, on stage;
    • High profit payment;
    • The opportunity to see the world through touring.

    Minuses

    • Exhausting workouts;
    • Strict daily routine;
    • Pain in joints, ligaments, muscles;
    • Dedicating my entire life to ballet.

    How to practice ballet at home?

    • The structure of choreography classes is very standard and it doesn’t matter whether you study with a trainer or at home.
    • First come the easiest exercises to warm up and stretch the muscles. Then long and complex exercises are performed. A few hours before classes you need to eat well, otherwise you may simply not have enough strength and energy.
    • You definitely need a machine
      , since all the basic exercises are performed on it. At the end you need to do some stretching. It is not done on a machine, but in free space - jumps, spins and the obligatory final bow are practiced.
    • You should practice ballet 2-3 times a week for an hour
      , you can do it for an hour and a half. If you do this regularly, you will notice results within a month. Your shoulders will straighten, your posture will become more proud, and your self-confidence will increase.
    • There is an opinion that to practice ballet you need to buy a special uniform, including pointe shoes and a tutu. It's a delusion. To dance fluently on pointe shoes requires years of training, and a beginner simply cannot stand on them .
      For beginners, it's best to wear regular workout clothes , such as leggings, or stretchy, tight pants or a top. Special ballet slippers, which can be found in stores for dancers, are suitable as shoes. You should buy such shoes in a slightly smaller size than you wear in everyday life, since ballet slippers should fit snugly to your feet.

    Positions in ballet are the basis of all the fundamentals, without which it is impossible to study any complex choreographic figures. Therefore, it is necessary to start learning ballet art at home with them.

    1. First position - stand straight, push your heels together, and turn your toes in the opposite direction from each other, thus forming a straight line on the floor.
    2. The second position is very similar to the first, but there is still a significant difference - the heels of the inverted legs are approximately one foot apart.
    3. Third position - the heel of one of the legs stands in front of the instep of the other foot and lightly touches it.
    4. Fourth position - place your turnout feet parallel to each other so that you can place another foot between them, while placing one heel directly in front of the toe of the second heel, thus distributing body weight evenly.
    5. The fifth position is in many ways similar to the fourth. But there is also a difference, which is that the soles of both legs are in close contact with each other.
    6. Sixth position - the legs are not positioned in an inverted manner, but are in their normal position.

    There are also basic hand positions

    , which are best mastered after studying leg positions. Each position must be performed very carefully, trying to feel the muscles as much as possible and tense them. The stomach is always retracted, the posture is straight and graceful.

    • First position: lower your arms down and round, palms facing up.
    • From the first position, the arms smoothly rise to the level of the abdomen, the shoulders freely look down.
    • From the second position, the arms smoothly move to the top of the head, and the hands maintain the main position.
    • One hand is at the level of the stomach in the second position, and the other hand is above the head in the third position.
    • One arm is straight, slightly moved away from the body, and the other is in third position.
    • One hand is still near the body, and the other smoothly moves down, forming a second position.
    • Extend both arms to the sides so that they form a semicircle from the elbow to the wrist - this is the seventh position.

    How to learn ballet at home: video

    Even if you are not going to practice ballet professionally, such classes will be very useful for maintaining health and improving your appearance. By the way, many professional football players engage in choreography to improve the quality of their game, but for the average person, ballet develops plasticity and flexibility

    .,

    What woman does not look with envy at the chiseled figures of ballerinas and does not admire their flexibility, stretch marks, grace with considerable muscle strength and body endurance. And then everyone probably thinks: I will never achieve this, because I haven’t studied at a ballet school since I was 5 years old... But it’s not all so sad - to make your body, if not exactly like that of a professional ballerina, then slim , graceful and flexible can be helped by a relatively new modern direction of training - body ballet fitness. What is bodyballet, what results does it give, is it possible to lose weight with it, practice at home using video lessons - the answers are in our review.

    Body-Ballet, as a type of dance aerobics, appeared relatively recently - in 2005, when the author of the method, famous choreographer and fitness trainer Lee Sarago (pictured) presented the world with a video of his new development, where she combined ballet movements, classical dances, and elements of Pilates and yoga into one mix program, which was aptly named body ballet. The author simplified and adapted the movements taken from ballet to the capabilities of ordinary women, without special dance and physical training, so body ballet classes are available to almost everyone (and men too) who do not have serious health restrictions.

    Body ballet quickly spread thanks to Janet Jenkins, the most popular fitness trainer in the United States. This dark-skinned athlete, with two higher educations in the field of sports medicine, helps many Hollywood and music stars have slim and flawless figures. She immediately appreciated all the advantages that body ballet classes have, made her own additions and, together with the author, released video body ballet lessons for classes in the gym and at home.

    Body ballet was brought to Russia by the famous ballerina, soloist of the Bolshoi Theater Ilse Liepe. She changed the methodology a little and offered her own version of the musical accompaniment. Her initiative was taken up by Ekaterina Buida, a choreographer and YouTube blogger, the author of many phytoyoga programs. In 2009, she proposed her own version: body ballet for weight loss or body transformation.

    “The girls were afraid that their breasts would grow and their periods would start.”

    In early October, a 14-year-old student of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography committed suicide. Later, a former student of the educational institution contacted the editors of Lenta.ru. According to her, the harsh and sometimes cruel teaching methods adopted at the ballet school played no small role in the tragedy. The leadership of the academy called the incident an accident and asked not to focus attention on it, but the girl told why she did not believe that the tragic death of her friend was accidental.

    “She has been writing suicide notes since the beginning of the school year. But no one believed her. Maybe she decided to prove it,” says 15-year-old Maria (the minor’s name has been changed). Maria studied a year older than Yulia and remembers the deceased as a cheerful girl.

    On the evening of October 5, the body of a young ballerina was found under the windows of a residential building in the center of Moscow. A 14-year-old girl was lying on the asphalt. Together with her parents and two sisters, Yulia Ivanova (the minor’s name has been changed) lived in this house on the 14th floor. The mother of the deceased told investigators that her daughter studied at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography. Despite her love for ballet, Julia was under threat of expulsion: while the norm was 44 kilograms for ballerinas of her age, she weighed 50 kilograms. This was announced at a parent meeting on September 26.

    Julia suffered from bulimia, an eating disorder in which excessive control over one’s weight is accompanied by sudden breakdowns, overeating and subsequent attempts to radically get rid of extra pounds. Shortly before the tragedy, her parents found a laxative in her things, which led to another conflict in the family. The girl locked herself in her room, and when her mother returned home, she saw an open window.

    “At first I thought it was a stupid joke. Then I started shaking. I know this state when you are ready to commit suicide because of your weight. And I know how they get to this point at school,” recalls Maria. Last year, the girl took her documents from the school.

    Yulia wrote to her classmates that she could not cope with her weight and felt cornered, Maria’s mother says.

    “She was depressed. This had to be treated with medications, but they create a side effect called “excess weight.” At first she had anorexia, then she began to suffer from bulimia,” she clarifies.

    Photo: Denis Sinyakov / Reuters

    The Moscow State Academy of Choreography is not only one of the oldest ballet schools in the world (next year it will turn 245 years old), but also one of the most prestigious in the country. The traditional final exam is held on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater, after which the best students of the academy receive an invitation to work in famous ballet troupes. Over the years, its graduates included Maya Plisetskaya, Ilze Liepa, Anna Antonicheva, Vyacheslav Gordeev, Sergei Filin, Nikolai Tsiskaridze.

    Every year, the school accepts about 40 children who have completed primary school. The fifth grade of a comprehensive school is considered the first in the ballet academy. By graduation, half of the students remain in the class: there is a strict elimination process.

    The deceased Yulia studied in the “turning point” fifth ballet class: it is on the eve of graduation that the most severe selection takes place. Not only academic performance matters, but also the physical characteristics of adolescents. At the beginning and end of the year, students are weighed, and lists with indicators are handed over to teachers of the specialized subject. The results can be announced to the whole class, which increases the degree of tension among teenagers.

    Maria admits that she and her classmates were too emotional about grades and possible expulsion. “If you gave a bad mark in the “classics” (classical dance - approx. Lenta.ru)

    ), sobbing and threats to commit suicide began. Relapses are the norm,” she explains.

    This attitude towards the subject is not surprising: unlike ordinary schools, the ballet school has one main subject, which is taught for several hours every day. As a rule, this is classical dance, the basis of ballet. Thus, the teacher in the main subject becomes a more significant adult figure for students than other teachers. Both Maria and Yulia had the same teacher: Honored Artist of Russia Maya Ivanova. Her scientific supervisor was the rector of the academy, Marina Leonova, according to the institution’s website.

    The anorexia that Maria fell ill with was caused by the teacher’s attitude towards the appearance of her classmates, the girl says. “In my second year of study, I began to be afraid of her. She didn't scream or threaten. She destroyed me morally. She called everyone who, in her opinion, was not thin enough, “fat cows” and “boars” who “ate an elephant.” She could come up right in the corridor, in front of the boys and other teachers, grab him by the shoulders and shake him, pointing out that he was too fat,” she says.

    The biggest fear of the girls in the class was that they would develop breasts and start menstruating—this was considered “shameful” and condemned as “obesity.”

    “My classmate started her period. She sat in her “classics” classes as if liberated, she was very ashamed. During the lesson, the teacher called her a cow, and then asked her to stay and prove that she really has “these days.” Show gasket. A classmate came out in tears, she was shaking,” recalls Maria, apologizing for the “banal details.”

    Alexander Kryazhev / RIA Novosti

    These details cost Maria an eating disorder: she was afraid that if she recovered, she would be subjected to the same humiliation. In the third ballet class (7th grade of a regular school), she switched to an extreme diet: green tea (black tea does not help lose weight), low-fat cottage cheese, steamed vegetables and 100 grams of boiled chicken breast - in the form of encouraging ballet success. She secretly threw away the more high-calorie food prepared by her mother. “When my eyes darkened, I was glad that they would praise me: everything is fine, I’m thin,” she explains.

    With a height of 170 centimeters, she weighed 40 kilograms. In the fourth ballet class, I lost weight to 36. “When I came in the fall, Maya Evgenievna began to praise me. She said that I was great, this is exactly the uniform that is needed, and set me up as an example to other girls. Now I understand that I looked terrible. But when they told me about this, I thought they were jealous,” says Maria.

    The emaciated figure that protected her from the attacks of teachers was not the only consequence of a strict diet: Maria no longer had enough strength for simple pirouettes. Although she stood at the central stick (that is, she was one of the best students), exhaustion was perceived by the teachers as banal laziness. The girl was invited to additional individual lessons. First once a week, then twice, then three - 1.5 thousand rubles per lesson. There was no benefit from them, says Maria: individual lessons turned into group lessons, and teachers were distracted by their own affairs. When she refused frequent extracurricular activities, Ivanova lowered her grade.

    Doctors should also monitor the health of young ballerinas. But medical care was just a joke. “I remember there was a period when we were all fed Smecta. If your head hurts, here’s the Smecta, your stomach, here’s the Smecta, if you fell and got injured, take the Smecta. We laughed,” recalls Maria. There were no full-time psychologists, although not only teenagers needed their support: teachers also had breakdowns. According to Maria, one day, out of emotion, classical dance teacher Tamara Negrebetskaya threw a chair at one of her students.

    In November 2020, a girl fainted during a literature lesson. She spent the next two months at home with severe exhaustion: according to her body mass index, she was severely underweight. During the time she spent at home, none of her classmates or teachers called her.

    “When a child makes progress at the academy, it seems that she is the future Anna Pavlova, Maya Plisetskaya. This vanity is blinding. I controlled her diet myself and selected low-calorie foods. When the child began to eat less, I caught myself thinking that this is great: such willpower,” says Maria’s mother.

    The girl hid her weight from her family: in her class it was customary to abuse laxatives - they drank pills in packs. The mother learned about problems with nutrition and 36 kilograms from her personal diary when she was faced with her daughter’s emotional breakdowns.

    Photo: Ilya Naimushin / Reuters

    “She had constant tantrums. Up to ten a day. The daughter cried, called herself fat, said that she did not want to live. The day I found confirmation of my guesses in the diary, I grabbed her hand and took her to a psychologist. They told me that Masha was on the verge: another week and the point of no return would be passed,” she recalls.

    The psychiatrist diagnosed him with depression and anorexia. In desperation, the woman turned to a hypnologist. Since January, with weekly sessions with a psychotherapist and treatment with antidepressants, my daughter’s condition began to slowly improve.

    Maria's mother decided to talk to the rector about the attitude towards the students' health. This turned out to be difficult. Some of the rules at the academy paid tribute to the traditions of the times when the institution was founded - imperial Russia at the end of the 18th century, says Maria.

    “The rector has always been like a queen. She drove up to the courtyard in a car with tinted windows, and when she entered the academy, everyone in the corridor either hid because they were afraid of her, or came out and curtsied (a bow with a squat as a sign of greeting - approx. "Lenta.ru"

    ). She walked through and hid in her office, which was impossible to get into. The only day we were allowed to go there was her birthday. We gave flowers, read a poem and tiptoed away,” recalls a former student.

    Perhaps the habit of piety prevented parents from establishing contact with the leadership of the academy. Maria's mother's remark that all the girls in her daughter's class abused laxatives in one way or another and suffered from eating disorders was ignored. Leonova replied that anorexia is Maria’s personal problem, which has nothing to do with the academy. The woman turned to doctors, but they also reported that the main thing was the result, and not the mental health of the students. Then she took the documents from the academy.

    By that time, Maria herself was ready to leave. “All the pink dust about ballet tutus and beautiful dances came out in the first year of study. Once I repeated the combination incorrectly. The teacher flew up to me, grabbed me by the bun on my head and bent me over, and when I straightened up, she punched me in the forehead. I cried from pain and surprise, and she asked: “Why are you crying, what did I do to you?”,” she says calmly.

    What happened to 14-year-old Yulia is hardly a tragedy for the academy itself: “They are just scared that they might start looking for reasons,” Maria is sure.

    She entered a special school with a linguistic focus, but her social network avatar still has a photo of her in a tutu and pointe shoes.

    “Lenta.ru” turned to the Moscow State Academy of Choreography for comments, but communication did not work out: first, assistant rector Alla Chapaeva said that Marina Leonova did not consider it necessary to answer questions, then the editor received a letter advising the journalist “not to tamper with things that have not yet healed.” wounds": "We consider public comments and discussions in relation to the tragic incident to be immoral, unprofessional, and creating unnecessary excitement in society. The obsessive desire and constant attempts of former students to denigrate their own alma mater cause nothing but contempt in our unique team,” Chapaeva wrote, refusing to continue communication.

    The management of the Moscow Academy of Choreography is indeed very closed - and not only for communication with journalists, but also with the parents themselves, says ballet critic Anna Gordeeva. Right down to the elements of “serfdom”: the academy prohibits parents from communicating on social networks and discussing the work of the school. Those who fear for the professional fate of the child have to follow these rules.

    “The school does not consider it necessary to explain its actions. She certainly doesn’t see a problem with children’s eating disorders,” Gordeeva is sure. Anorexia and bulimia are considered in the ballet community to be a manifestation of weakness, not illness, she notes.

    Photo: Vitaly Ankov / RIA Novosti

    The presence of full-time psychologists at the academy is unlikely to solve the problem: “Not a single ballet child will talk about things that are really important to them with the school’s full-time psychologists. The first thing ballet kids learn is not to be open with anyone under management. In reality, everything is in the power of the rector. Including medical secrets.”

    Both insults and physical abuse are a tradition in all Russian schools, the critic claims. This applies to the Moscow Academy - the second most important for ballet in Russia, and the first - the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in St. Petersburg, and the third - the Perm State Choreographic School.

    “There is a wonderful documentary film by Efim Reznikov, “Prisoners of Terpsichore,” about Lyudmila Sakharova, the artistic director of the Perm school. On record, she does not hesitate to bring her students to tears and hysterics, who then become stars. In our ballet schools, it is believed that emotional violence benefits the child, that it is effective,” says Gordeeva.

    The critic emphasizes that the rigid teaching style is, to one degree or another, inherent in many ballet schools outside of Russia. The trend towards humanizing ballet education can only be seen in American schools so far: parents can sue a teacher who says that their child needs to lose weight. “On the one hand, this has a positive effect on the psychological state of students, on the other hand, it’s worth looking at graduates of American schools to understand that their well-being is improving, but the quality of education is decreasing,” says Gordeeva.

    She immediately adds that this does not mean that emotional abuse is necessary, but she is sure that if humanity becomes more humane, ballet will disappear, just as bullfighting is now disappearing - once an activity for strong men, and now a mockery of bulls. There will remain free dance, where all people can dance, regardless of their body types and abilities, the critic predicts: “Ballet is still a very discriminatory art form.”

    The essence of the program and exercises

    The body ballet program is designed for adults, since it requires quite noticeable loads on the muscular corset and joints; you need to patiently and diligently try to perform all the exercises that include body ballet lessons. Classes for beginners should be carried out only in the gym, under the guidance of an experienced fitness trainer, since from photos and even videos it is impossible to correctly understand the technique of performing many specific exercises taken from classical ballet.

    The schedule of classes is expected to be as follows:

    • body ballet for beginners – 2 times a week for 40-45 minutes;
    • after 3 months of training – 2-3 times a week for 60 minutes;
    • for experienced athletes – 3 times for 90 minutes.

    And only after you have fully mastered all the body ballet exercises and training features, you can practice on your own at home using an online or video lesson.

    Body ballet training, as in other types of fitness, consists of three stages.

    • – to warm up muscles and develop joints – at least 10 minutes.
    • The main part of the workout is 30-60 minutes, consisting of performing exercises at an intense pace, in a certain order. Mainly classical music is used, including modern arrangements. Modern classic with pop treatment and modern rhythmic tracks are also allowed.
    • Cool down to maximally work out each muscle group and restore breathing. It is carried out at a calm pace, to smooth melodies, and elements are used. Time 8-10 minutes.

    About your favorite dishes and gastronomic indulgences

    Of course, over the years my diet changes. At one time I ate a lot of nuts and dried fruits, but now I don’t eat them at all. Apparently, she has been “full” of them for a long time. But fashion trends do not affect my gastronomic preferences. Although there is one cocktail that I adore and which you can eat as much as you like and never gain weight. My husband cooks it. These are cottage cheese, milk and fruits (I especially like bananas and kiwi).

    In general, favorite dishes are those that give strength and at the same time lightness. Perhaps most of all I love chicken and my mother’s stewed vegetables. This is the perfect food for me.

    Of course I love sweets. Sometimes I eat gelatin candies, they are tasty and are believed to be good for joints. One of my favorite summer pleasures is walking through the park, breathing in fresh air and eating delicious ice cream. As for weddings and other lavish feasts: such events occur extremely rarely, so I don’t even think much about eating behavior in such situations. In any case, I just try to never overeat. And if I need to lose weight, I work longer and harder in the gym. This is enough to get back in shape.

    Basic exercises

    It is impossible to list all body ballet exercises in one article; we will briefly describe those that are used more often than others.

    • . Legs in second ballet position, arms bent and extended forward. At a slow pace, you perform a squat with your arms raised up, then return to the starting position. 20-25 repetitions.
    • . The feet are placed one in front of the other parallel. Next, without lifting your toe from the floor, move your leg forward/to the side/back/to the starting position. Performed 10 times with each leg.
    • . It is performed at the machine, holding with both hands, the back is straight. Without lifting your toes, take one leg back and fix the position. Next, sharply raise your leg as far back and up as possible and return it back. Perform 15 repetitions on the right and left legs.
    • Batman tandu jete
      . The feet are placed one in front of the other parallel, one leg is taken forward/to the side/back/to the starting position in a position of 45 degrees in relation to the other leg. 10-15 repetitions on each leg.
    • Body tilts
      . Performed at the machine, the right leg is placed on the machine without bending the knees. Raising your right arm, bend forward 10 times to touch your toes with your hand. Change legs and do 10 more bends.
    • . Feet in the first ballet position - heels touching and spread 180 degrees, arms spread to the sides (one can hold onto the barre - for balance). Deep squats are performed slowly. Repeat 20 times.
    • . Feet are also in first position, arms to the sides, slowly rise to half-toes and go back. Repeat 20-30 times. It is recommended to do a “triad” in a row: demi plie, grand plie and relevé - to develop the ligaments.

    Efficiency and results of classes

    Body ballet for those who practice regularly and purposefully will be able to get the maximum benefit in just a few months. This:

    • Weight loss effect. By increasing your heart rate during exercise, the process of natural burning of subcutaneous fat starts. It is also recommended to combine body ballet training with a specific nutrition system.
    • Correction of body shapes without significant muscle gain. The fabrics will simply become more taut, elastic, and embossed.
    • Strengthening joints and restoring ligament flexibility. Body ballet classes are suitable for people who have suffered limb and back injuries - as a therapeutic rehabilitation.
    • Strengthening the cardiovascular system, improving blood circulation and oxygen supply to all tissues of the body.
    • Increased flexibility (give), improved coordination, dexterity and endurance of the body.
    • Improved posture, graceful gait and all movements.
    • Anti-stress effect – psychological relaxation, mood stabilization.
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