Ballet is so much more than picking out a leotard, slipping into some tights, and strapping on ballet shoes. It’s about developing skills through dedication and perseverance. Although an athletic background helps, you don’t have to be a pro at dancing to enjoy the pros of ballet. Not convinced? Here are the Top 10 from Health Fitness Revolution and author of the book ReSYNC Your Life Samir Becic:
Better posture
Ballet helps you achieve postural alignment. Each movement requires alertness of how you carry yourself from one stance to the other. Elegant forms such as the Port de Bras and High Swan Arms corrects sloppy posture by pulling your shoulders back and elongating your neck.
Boosts confidence
Anyone can do ballet. It begins with the innate desire to pursue ballet and setting achievable goals along the way. A study found that ballet training increased the diversity of subjects’ foot configuration. However, an experienced and amateur met comparable levels of postural control and stance difficulty. You will be amazed at yourself when you complete a posture that used to intimidate you.
Improves flexibility
Flexibility is not a prerequisite for ballet; you gain it through practice. Since ballet involves static and dynamic stretching, doing both will contribute to your overall flexibility.
Builds muscle and agility
Believe it or not, ballet is a combination of pilates and endurance training. It also entails breath coordination throughout your dance sequence. Doing plié squats, ballet jumps, and spins use your own body weight to strengthen your core and lower body. As you continue to practice more, you’ll maintain the integrity of precise movements and your motor skills.
Burns calories
Your body weight affects the number of calories burned in a 90-minute session. A person weighing over 120 pounds can burn about 200 calories or more in just 30 minutes, which is approximately 600 calories per session.
Nutritional consciousness
Whether you’re doing ballet as a casual or serious activity, you don’t want to feel bloated in class. Therefore, being mindful of what you eat will tremendously influence your experience. A well-balanced diet nourishes your body with the right things to complement your internal and external health.
Improves sensorimotor performance
The ability to balance yourself and react to external stimuli is indicative of how tuned your sensorimotor skills are. Participating in a ballet or dance program enhances these skills by engaging both hemispheres of the brain for coordinated learning.
Sharpens cognitive function
Similar to learning a new sport, becoming proficient in ballet challenges your brain to synchronize your form with the expectations. A meta-analysis found that ballet and other dance interventions were useful measures to limit age-related mental impairment such as dementia.
Relieves stress
Ballet should be about having fun and training your body to achieve forms you didn’t know were possible. Get a few chuckles out of your dance mistakes and focus on improving what you can instead of worrying about external issues you can’t change.
Builds social connections
Joining a ballet class and interacting with your group promotes a healthier life. It’s a great opportunity to make friends as you learn and grow together from new experiences. Building strong relationships lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and illness associated with it.
Thanks for a great article! I’ve heard before of ballet being difficult even for big strong professional football players. It sure requires a lot of physical and mental discipline. I hadn’t thought that the improved posture could also lead to better confidence.
I thought it was interesting that you mentioned how ballet can boost your confidence. My sister is looking to get into ballet but needs to get the proper clothing. I’ll be sure to talk to her about buying a ballet leotard and how it can help boost her confidence.