I Just Want to Dance

Dancers @nicolevoris & @erincrall / Shot on an iPhone 7Plus & edited with VSCO / The photographer of Ballet Zaida is coming to California & Pennsylvania. To commission your own Ballet Zaida Photoshoot or for more info, Email: Oliver@ZaidaPhotography.com #Dance #Balletvideo #Pointe #Feet #Ballerina #DanceVideo #Nycb #NewYorkCityBallet #BalletZaida (at New York, New York)

Source: balletzaida

strengthofbody-strengthofmind

iwontdancenetwork

Ballet Evolved: The Evolution of Pointe Work

Former Ballet Mistress Ursula Hageli looks at the development of pointe work in ballet, where the dancers move on the tips of their toes – from Marie Taglioni’s experiments in the 1830s, through developments by Italian and Russian dancers through to the famed pointe work of Russian Classical ballet. With danced demonstrations by Gemma Pitchley-Gale and Fumi Kaneko.

Source: iwontdancenetwork

Lately my toes have been really tight so they really needed this wall stretch when they came out of my shoes! (Not pictured: some very yucky heels thank goodness)

ballet pointe

lemonsoup27 asked:

Hi! Im 17 and Im also am aspiring ballerina, but Im currently struggling with an eating disorder and I just want to know how you deal with body image issues? Ive never really met any other aspiring ballerinas since Im from a small town and no one in my class wants to make a career out of it as I dream. Thank you!

Hi! So I wanted to take some time to think about this ask, because to very honest I also struggle with an E.D. so I completely understand where you’re coming from and how hard it is. Now, let me be clear, I’ve gone through recovery with a doctor, nutritionist, and counselor all working with me. Getting help is most definitely what I would recommend. I also understand that you might not want help, or have the resources to get it. With that said, here’s some tips and things that I do to manage body image.

When you’re at home, STOP looking in the mirror. Body checks add to our body dysmorphia. When you’re getting dressed, getting into or out of the shower, don’t look in the mirror until you’re dressed or covered with your towel. It sounds silly but as ballet dancers we can be such perfectionists and pick at every little thing that we don’t like or think could be improved about our bodies.
When you’re dancing in class, use the mirror only for body placement and for following the combination. This will help your dancing as well. The more you can feel what your body is dancing like, the more you can correct yourself. The mirror is useful tool for noticing when you should pull up, turn out more, point your foot more, etc. Start by pulling your eyes away from the mirror as much as possible. If you need to look, just do a quick check.
Stop comparing yourself to other dancers. I struggle with this one, but something that helps is remembering that all dancers have insecurities and we’re all going to class to improve ourselves. We all have different and unique bodies and there really are ballerinas with all body types.
Eat things that make you feel good. When I was in the worst of my E.D. I wouldn’t eat for as long as I possibly could, and when I did eat, it was food that wasn’t great for me. If you put foods in your body that you can feel good about (fruits, veggies) then that’s a good step. I can also post some meal ideas and food tips from my nutritionist if that’d be helpful.
Focus on how amazing it is that your body can dance. Ballet, is like, really hard. lol. A ballerina’s mind and body are incredible because we learn combinations in 30 seconds and immediately translate those to our body while remembering to maintain technique and body positioning. Celebrate what your body can do. Focus on it, internalize it. At the end of class, remember what you did well. Appreciate and be mindful of the fact that your body has the ability to do those things. If it helps, write it down in a journal!
Remember that you need fuel to dance. Food is the most necessary for ballerinas. Even the night before ballet class you should be eating and drinking water (and the day of class too!). At my worst in my E.D., I had to leave a class early because I was going to pass out. I didn’t have any food in my system. I felt weak and instantly tired. Food is our friend. It allows our bodies to grow stronger and for us to learn.

Those are the tips I have for now! If I think of more I’ll add more! I hope this helps, anyone is free to ask questions if they want :)

ed tw trigger warning eating disroders eating disoder tw ballet

Dores André and Luke Ingham in Pita’s Björk Ballet, Photo: Erik Tomasson

that bend tho ballet

bolshoi ballet

See, that’s what the app is perfect for.

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