Picture a Ballerina. What do you see? You might be picturing a girl dressed in a pink leotard, pink pointe shoes, pink tights, with a large tutu and a tight bun, who has long legs and is standing on a grand stage performing in The Nutcracker.
While we all imagine pictures of what a ballerina should look like, those images are not necessarily the goal of ballet class. Many people take ballet classes to learn life lessons, move their bodies in a fun and interesting way or to expand and polish their mental skills.
Linda Mellina is a Barre Method teacher, a dance instructor with a BFA in dance from Rutgers University, and a graduate of Seton Hall Law School. She said, “Ballet teaches patience and resilience because in ballet you are doing a million things wrong and you work hard to adjust yourself.”
WHS sophomore Sophie Poller takes ballet classes at least twice a week. Poller said, “Ballet has helped me with my work ethic and determination.” WHS is an academically challenging school, and Poller said that she has learned not to give up on hard academic tasks because ballet has taught her to be determined.
Sharon Hockstein, a ballet teacher, former student at the School of American Ballet in New York City and former company member of the New York City Ballet, said, “Ballet teaches focus and impulse control, and it’s hard to find a place to hone in on those skills for yourself.”
Ballet can teach lessons necessary for professional careers. Mellina said, “When I was writing a recommendation letter for [a former dance student] to Seton Hall Law School, I talked a lot about how she would be able to stand in front of a jury to deliver a closing argument and be poised, calm and professional. We learn how to perform as dancers and manage that adrenaline rush when we get nervous.”
A ballet class consists of two parts: barre and center. Barre is ballet exercises to warm up the muscles while holding a barre on the wall for balance. The center portion of a class is ballet exercises without the barre, so your balance is truly tested.
Poller said, “Overall [ballet is] hard because it’s a lot of work on your body and it takes a lot of strength to be able to do the steps accurately.” This strength is built intentionally with the exercises at barre and in center.
Mellina said, “Ballet uses very small movements that are controlled to keep targeted muscle groups contracted.” During ballet barre, dancers will do very small movements repeatedly to build specific muscles. Ballet also consists of larger movements that spike the heart rate and Mellina said, “These larger movements are more plyometric and explosive, however they are still in the frame of the technique.”
Mellina said the small pulses and movements during barre are keeping the muscles contracted and are very different from other workouts. Mellina said, “Doing biceps curls with poor form is very different from a barre class where we are doing little pulses.”
Hockstein said, “Ballet is good for anyone at any age and I think with an older, more mature brain, you are more easily able to capture the skills.” Hockstein said the mental benefits of ballet include better coordination, learning music theory and learning patterns.
According to a study by YJ Jeong in 2005, ballet “relieves physical tension, anxiety, and aggression, while decreasing cognitive and kinesthetic confusion.”
Jeong’s study also said, “Dance increases the capacity for interaction, increases pleasure, fun, and impulsiveness.” Hockstein said ballet brings connection which is beneficial to our mental health.
Ballet serves as a mental break for everyone’s hectic lives. Mellina said, “You’re allowing yourself to really get into your body and just focus on that whether it’s 45 minutes or an hour class. And I feel calmer when I come out, feel stronger and I feel more energized.” Poller said ballet allows her to clear her head from stress during the school week.
A 2004 study by B. Draganski said ballet utilizes neuroplasticity, which is the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections. So, people who practice ballet can expand different parts of their brain. “With repeated practice, it develops unique patterns that reflect your experiences.”
According to a bethezdahealth.org, growing evidence supports the ability of dance to positively affect cognitive function. Additionally, the positive effects of dance are linked to preventing more health conditions associated with cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease, than other activities.
If you want to work out while benefiting your mental health and preventing cognitive decline, make ballet your newest hobby or go-to workout class. Ballet is tough, but it challenges your body and mind in new ways.