Dancers use ballet bars in several ways. They use ballet bars to stretch their muscles during a warm-up. The bar acts as support for bone and muscle. They may also use the bar to provide support when learning or practicing a new movement or when first using pointe shoes.
A wall-mounted bar may be secured against a wall with screws and a metal support. You can generally purchase one for less than $100. A bar may also be screwed into a wall mirror using a drill and two or three support brackets.
Freestanding bars are widely available. A freestanding bar generally consists of one or two wooden horizontal bars, two or three metal vertical bars, a cross bar for support and two or three flat metal bars that fall on the ground and provide support for the rest of the mechanism. These bars are generally placed in the middle of the classroom. They are often adjustable to allow for dance classes of different ages, abilities and heights. Freestanding bars generally can be purchased for $100 and up.
A bar may be composed of nearly any kind of wood desired. Poplar, oak and maple are popular choices. The bar is then sanded down and often given a light coating of shellac. Care is taken not to make the bar too slippery, which could result in injury for the dancer, make it difficult to learn proper placement of hands and feet, or drive the body out of ideal alignment. Brackets to hold the bar are generally made of chrome and brass.
Many ballet classes start with work at the bar. There are several simple moves that may be performed, such as the plie, eleve and ronde de jambe. Each movement is performed while holding on to the bar for support. The bar allows the dancer to focus on a specific body part and perfect a move while remaining supported.