The Beauty and Grace of Ballet

The art of ballet dancing dates back to the 15th century. It is said to have started in the Renaissance court of Italy to interpret the sport of fencing. After 1850, it expanded remarkably in Denmark and Russia, only to then spread across the globe. To date, it continues to grow as a popular sport and teaching curriculum for young children and adults everywhere.

There are a couple of variations to ballet dancing that have developed over time. There is classical ballet, which is the most traditional and formal. It has numerous variations from Russia, France and Italy, but for the most part is basic and simple choreography. There is the neoclassical ballet, developed by George Balanchine, which uses the traditional vocabulary, but is much more expansive than classical. The dancers are much more extreme and technical with their dance moves, and the spacing is more modern and complex. The dance is still there without the drama and heavy theatrical setting. More recently developed is the contemporary dance which is a combination of both classical and modern dance moves. The use of pointe work and some of the more "old fashioned" moves, is being mixed with more floor work and turning-in of the legs, to give it a more 20th century look.

When watching the graceful dancers on stage, onlookers wouldn't think that there are health risks involved with ballet. Many of the dancers, both male and female, suffer from eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia. They also get shin splints, minor fractures, muscle damage, and other minor injuries due to not warming up and poor training environments. Unfortunately, the result of these injuries, and illnesses, is a short lived dancing career for those who do not watch for the warning signs of pushing too hard, and not taking good care of their health.