The design of ballet slippers has evolved little since the first pointes appeared in the 1800s.
Ballerinas feel the burn
September 18, 2009
Special to the Star
They may look dainty, but make no mistake – ballerinas are athletes.
Those pirouettes and pliés require strength and control, with most of a dancer's power coming from the core, says Portia Wade, a ballet teacher and owner of Urban Ballerina, a private dance coaching program.
Even the most basic stance – turning out the feet – calls on muscles few people use in daily life, Wade says.
"There's so much in ballet that you have to be aware of," from lengthening the spine to relaxing the neck and face, she says. After a session in the studio, "I find I can feel it almost to the bone."
A standard class combines stretching, barre exercises, arm work, jumps and steps, then ends with the révérence, a set of bows and curtsies to thank the teacher and pianist.
"Every part of the legs is working," Wade says.
One of the classic barre exercises, the demi-plié calls for balance, flexibility and strength.
Modified demi-plié:
1. Stand with your back against a wall, your heels together and toes turned out into a V. The turn should come from the hip.
2. Put your hands on your hips, or hold on to a chair for balance.
3. With your spine straight, bend your knees as far as you can, sliding against the wall. Keep your heels on the ground, but most of the weight in your toes.
4. Straighten your legs, squeezing your inner thighs. Repeat.