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How to Condition for Ballet

Ballet is an extremely demanding art form that closely resembles an Olympic sport in terms of training and skill level required. Dancers need the body strength of a professional athlete, the mental acuity of a bullfighter, matched with the grace of a gazelle. Tendinitis, muscle strains and stress fractures are common injuries for a dancer, while a broken foot or torn ligament can sometimes end a career. Cross training and core conditioning are two things vital to a dancer’s health and success.

Instructions

    • 1

      Stretch and lengthen your muscles with yoga and Pilates exercises. Under-stretched quadriceps and weak upper bodies can be common in ballet dancers. Core muscles in the stomach and back are key to a dancer. Both yoga and Pilates are designed to specifically target these crucial areas.

    • 2

      Increase lung capacity, cardiovascular stamina and overall physical wellness required to perform exhausting dance routines with daily aerobic exercise. Walking, jogging, cycling and calisthenics are just a few aerobic cross-training ideas.

    • 3

      Strengthen crucial leg and arm muscles by doing weight resistant exercises. Lift light weights or use elliptical machine to avoid overbuilding muscle mass while revving up metabolism.

    • 4

      Swimming is an excellent aerobic cross training exercise, a fun past time and a great way to increase endurance and burn calories, without ever touching the ground or putting strain on overworked muscles.

Ballet

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