Do you dream of becoming a professional classical dancer but are not sure how to do it? Keep reading.
Steps
Step 1. Physical Characteristics
Anyone who dreams of becoming a dancer must meet certain physical characteristics. You must have a strong back, feet and legs; a flexible body, being graceful while dancing and healthy. The weight must also be right. It is not mandatory to be such from the start, but it will help if you want to become a professional dancer. The dancers are strong and flexible at the same time.
Step 2. Clothing
Having the right clothes can be a big incentive. Not only will it make you look professional, but some things can actually help you, allowing for better movements and even certain ballet techniques, such as pointe shoes. In many schools the basic uniform for girls is a leotard, a leotard, a georgette (very thin skirt), soft ballet shoes (leather or canvas). Once you level up, the teacher will make you put on the spiked shoes and teach you how to stand on them. This is a vital feature for professional dancers. Never wear these shoes ahead of time as they can seriously damage your thumbs, foot in general, and ankles. Check out various sites to learn more about proper clothing.
Step 3. Training
This will be the hardest thing if you are not already familiar with this world, but many people manage to overcome it. When choosing a school, make sure that the person running it is truly experienced, and has previously been a professional. See if anyone who graduated from that school has moved on to known dance companies. Also check that the conductor is a reasonable person: there are many teachers who will stop at nothing to create perfect dancers. And this is the opposite of reasonable. Training for a career is stressful - you don't need a teacher to increase this stress level. If you want to take your dance to a new level, you could also hire a private teacher. In almost all large cities there are dance schools, such as La Scala in Milan or the Boston Ballet School. However, membership is the prerogative of those with experience (as well as being expensive), but it will be a shining star in your future. Having a good teacher or two won't make you a dancer. You will need to perform each movement correctly while minimizing the risk of injury. Find out how your body reacts to ballet (anatomy, etc.), refine your imagination and other things that will help you have a better perception of your body. Analyze the leading dancers (the étoile and the soloists) of the various ballet corps and the side dancers ("the choir" in the companies) as well as the students and try to understand what makes them different. What do they do different? How do they do it? Because? These and other questions are the ones to ask yourself before committing yourself. But not only. There are tons of other experiences to learn from. Don't be afraid to have different ideas and opinions about your art form. In addition to knowing these things, you will also need to put them into practice. Staying after class is one way to do this. While others dance and you wait for your turn, instead of talking or practicing, ask yourself what you can improve on, what to do to be more artistic, elegant, etc. Learn it then apply it. The most important thing is to gain experience as a performer. Most schools have recitals in which students take part. If you want to advance in level, you will have to try to compete for solo positions or make contests. It will also be useful to train with different teachers from time to time, perhaps in the summer. You may be being corrected in different ways or receiving advice that your teacher usually doesn't know how to give you.
Step 4. Workout at home
Train your muscles in specific areas and methods to ballet: it is important to do "cross" loosening sessions so as not to hurt yourself by unbalancing yourself. Try yoga, swimming, pilates, hip hop, biking, hiking, or whatever you like. You have to add practices like yoga to strengthen yourself, but you also need to know how to act and develop artistic skills: we are talking about ballet. You can't go up on stage and put on a series of tricks. Where is the art, otherwise? You must be able to perceive. Try playing theatrical parts or taking acting lessons. While hard work is necessary, you will also need to find time to rest and take a break. You don't have to run out.
Step 5. Maintain a good attitude
Think about how to level up. Just having good technique is meaningless if no one notices you. "Intensive courses" are a good starting point. They are summer camps organized by the major ballet companies. You always have to want to learn new - or even old - things in a new way. Get to know your teachers. Don't be an annoying licker, but don't stand aside either. And remember that no one is less than you. If someone more experienced thought you are nothing, how would you feel? Plus, if this person suddenly asked you a favor, you wouldn't do it. So don't turn yourself into that person. There are many dance auditions organized to introduce dancers to the directors of major dance schools, and attending them can be a way to get a scholarship. With the bonus there will also be penalties. Classical dance is a figurative art and not a competition. Don't forget… The most important thing at this point is to make friends with anyone who can broaden your horizons. If you have to leave home at 15 or 16 to increase your chances of a career, leave. If you want it, of course. At this point, things are subjective. It all depends on your choices. Just like if you were in high school, what would you do for example if you wanted to become a biochemist? You would do some research to get into college, studying all you can, etc. It is therefore important to be noticed and to get your name out there. And if you sometimes feel insecure, find inspiration!
Advice
- Never give up!
- Be positive!
- Always remember your dreams, goals and why you do it. So you won't be able to fail.
- Believe in yourself.
- Ballet can also be a simple hobby. Doing it professionally requires a lot of effort and persistence. If you keep training and correcting mistakes, you will improve.
- Appropriate clothing helps and supports movements.
- Starting small is crucial - you may not have a ballet-friendly body, but starting small and working hard will keep you fit.
- In the end, remember that even if you are the best in the world, the only ones who know you are are the ones who become and make others realize it too.
- So get out of your shell and go to auditions.
- Remember to always stretch before and after class.
Warnings
- If you are not doing dance because you like it, you will eventually fail. You have to love what you do. Ballet is not a well-paid profession, you will work eight hours a day on pointe for a starvation wage. Do it for passion and nothing more.
- Ballet is a strenuous sport: there is a lot of competition and you will need to have a huge internal balance. There will always be someone who will put you down and claim that you are worth nothing.
