What is with Ballet? What are we really looking at? Can we fix it?

Ballet is a form of expression. That’s all it is, it’s not something to be crushed and taken away from someone just because of their way of living, body, or lifestyle. That is what we are here to talk about. Ballet at its core, where all of its secrets are to be revealed and explored. To explore a dancer's day-to-day life in either heaven or hell. 

 

So first, in the price and living aspect of it. The price for ballet schooling works similarly to college. You can scholarships and part scholarships to help pay for all of the tuition and living expenses. But except for the place that they give you when they pay for the living, it’s either extremely small or kind of run down. Because they want something cheap and easy to pay for. And even then you still have to pay for everything else like food and maybe even some of the bills. Then the price all around, is a hefty price tag. You either pay upfront for the semester or the entire year. The Joffrey Ballet costs $34,322 after scholarships and grants. At a more normal and local studio would still cost about $53,000 median. 

 

Then there’s the lifestyle of it. It's a harsh subject to talk about with many dancers. But it needs to be said, that most ballet companies end with dancers having an eating disorder or with huge amounts of body dysmorphia. Not all studios do, but a good chunk too and no one is stopping them. It is not something that is taken seriously and is overlooked as “excuses”. And dancers train almost every day, for about 4-5 hours after school hours. They are expected to come to the studio at 8:00 a.m. on Saturdays for 5-7 hours for rehearsals and then only have one off day to catch up on their homework and be on top of school. 

 

Theirs not many things that can compare to ballet schooling. But I think the closest one is ballroom schooling. They have to do many different partner work and you have to have a partner or you can’t dance. You have to find your partner. That can be challenging to do. But the environment is not as harsh as the ballet environment. 

 

There are many different topics that I could run on for a long time. But the only truly good thing to get out of dance is the support from other dancers and sometimes from the teachers. They are your support system as you are a part of theirs. Most of the people that you dance with will forever be your friends in your dance life and all aspects of your life. They will truly be the best friends that you will ever have in your life.