Ex-Ballet Dancer Talks Dark Side

Comments · 411

• RO

  @roastedpepper · 2 years ago

  Just to clarify, cause otherwise it really is beastiality, the swan is actually an enchanted princess who turns back into a human at night. And that’s who the prince fell in love with, not the actual swan. Not trying to be an ass, but as a ballet nerd, I must!

  366

• ME

  @mermaidopulence8539 · 1 year ago

  When I was younger dancing ballet I had an instructor that would literally tell us "I can see your lunch" or make us do a weigh-in to see if we gained any weight. She would also sometimes walk around with a stick and if your relevé isn't high enough she would hit your heels with the stick. We were kids at the time so that already was hard on not only our mental health but also our bodies. I ended up developing health issues because of it and had to stop my high school year. I remember my freshman year of high school I barely weighed 90lbs due to strict diet and rigorous training for ballet. I recently decided to step back into the ballet scene at a studio in my hometown. At first I was nervous to even go near a ballet studio but once I got there I saw how they were accepting of all body shapes and sizes and dance experience. I've been there about 4yrs going on 5 and have been in lots of productions there including Nutcracker every year.

  161

• DE

  @denisemoore6134 · 1 year ago (edited)

  ❤❤❤I put both my daughters into ballet, tap and jazz from age 5. They loved it. They "lived" at the studio, and dance was the main staple of their childhood. If they weren't at home they were at the dance school. The eldest is now 45 and still goes to anything related to dance she can find, adult ballet, tap, latin, egyptian and belly. The youngest took ballet all the way to Advanced II, and then she had two years in a musical theatre course. My son did tap and still does it at age 42. It was a commitment involving the whole family. I did all the sewing except the tutus. I made her last tutu and was so proud of myself. Dance is the absolute best thing out for children! It last a lifetime. They learn much more than being able to dance.😊 Their dance school NEVER talked about weight!

  174

• DO

  @DontBeGhey-ok · 1 year ago

  The world of ballet is totally coo coo. It truly is sick and dysfunctional. I was consumed in it for my late teens and early twenties and I look back now and think NEVER AGAIN WILL I PUT MYSELF IN THAT UNHEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.

  11

• LE

  @levicopp3224 · 1 year ago

  I believe the step invented by Louis 14th was the battu royale , the simplest of beaten steps, His title " The Sun King " refers to his enacting the role of the rising sun at the very end of " The ballet of the Night " an extremely lengthy work. There exists portraits of him  in brilliant costume with a golden disc of the sun with radiating lighf. His ballet master Pierre Beauchamp fixed the basic 5 positions of the feet and arms we see today

  34

• TH

  @TheDivayenta · 1 year ago

  Y’all should read Dancing On My Grave by one of America’s greatest ballerinas, Gelsey Kirkland. Balanchine and Baryshnikov nearly killed her with their skeletal aesthetic for female dancers.

  73

• JO

  @joana7497 · 1 year ago

  It is not "quarter", it is "corps de ballet", meaning "body" in french.

  118

• DE

  @debcevans · 1 year ago

  We are in Pittsburgh, and my daughter was studying and competing in Scottish Highland dance at the time of "Dance Moms."  We highland dance moms would talk about Abby Lee and we were appalled.  Also, in highland dance, it is competitive, but the dancers for the most part are very supportive of each other.

  26

• SO

  @sophie-qx4im · 1 year ago (edited)

  God I felt so vindicated when Bella pointed out how much the skill level has drastically changed over the years, I thought I was the only one who noticed it. I've noticed it within the theatre world as well when you compare what we see now to older shows. Despite people always being talented and it always being a tough industry,  it does feel as though there's an extra level of requirement there now

  27

• RU

  @RuthA.F · 1 year ago

  I honestly don't consider that Abby Lee Miller type of school a real ballet school. Sorry/NotSorry. I'm surprised any of them went on to join an actual ballet company and I think from the show only one did. She was the one Abby hated. That place was just a competition school. Fine for some things but for becoming a professional ballet dancer? Not really.

  177

• ST

  @stephaniestanley8041 · 1 year ago

  I can't imagine the discipline, the strength and grace this profession would require.❤🎉

  27

• SI

  @silverfeetsue · 1 year ago

  What the hell?! Dance moms is not a representation of ballet. First of all it’s more on the side of commercial dance. And second there is a hierarchy of ballet schools: ABT, SAB, Paris Opera, Kirov, Bolshi Royal Ballet and etc.. they have a standard look to them. If you are talking about some average ballet school everyone can get in then it’s not the same as the elite schools. I don’t think she coming from someone who has studied at these schools.

  27