Ballet for Adults

Studio Naim provides ballet lessons for adults at a variety of levels. In our Ballet Basics class – we introduce the fundamentals of ballet technique. The basics class requires no previous experience and is an extraordinary experience for anyone who’s ever dreamed of dancing and wants to begin at a later age.

Beginner Ballet classes are recommended for anyone who has some background and experience in ballet (anyone who hasn’t should probably start with our Ballet Basics class) and Intermediate Ballet is recommended for long-term ballet students who practice regularly at the studio.

 

 

 

The History of Classical Ballet

Humanity has danced since its beginning, but the art of ballet was born in Italy and France some 400 years ago, and spread all over Europe. At first, the dance was reserved for men alone (women’s parts were performed by men in costume), but around 1820, female dancers began “going on tiptoe”, a new virtuoso technique meant to convey a sense of levitation and supernatural grace.

Most steps in classical ballet are based on the five stances, which require a 180 degree opening of the thigh, an ability which, when achieved, allows the dancer full freedom of movement, perfect balance and elegance. Pierre Beauchamp was the first to record the stances in writing, in the late 17th century, but they were probably already in use previously. Thus, French became the language of classical ballet, a fact which does not detract from the importance of the Italian people in the art’s development.

There are different opinions regarding the importance of mastering classical ballet technique for those who do not intend to be ballet dancers (but rather to focus on contemporary dance, for instance). Some claim that without a foundation of classical ballet it is difficult for dancing students to acquire the necessary skills. Others insist that studying ballet creates too powerful a conditioning, from which they can never fully free themselves, and so, if they wish to pursue contemporary dance, they should avoid studying ballet and other overly structured methods. However, many believe that a balanced combination of different learning techniques is the best way to study dance, regardless of the type of dance the student intends to pursue in the future.