Informative Essay: Why Ballet Is A Dangerous Art Form
Ballet has been a form of art since the nineteenth century Renaissance. Ballerinas and Danseurs evanesced fluidly across the stage with grace and grandeur, However; ballet is a dangerous art form due to the fact that the practices and expectations imposed on ballerinas and danseurs are near impossible and severely consequential. Hours on barre and even longer on centre work cause chronic injuries. The professionals that the train the dancers don’t realize the physical and mental strain that they enforce. Anorexia along with a multitude of other disorders are the toxic result. Google clearly defines Ballet as “An artistic dance form performed to music using precise and highly formalized set steps and gestures. Classical ballet, which originated
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in Renaissance Italy and established its present form during the 19th century, is characterized by light, graceful, fluid movements and the use of pointe shoes.” (Google)
Ballet originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the fifteenth century.
Noblemen and women were treated to grand spectacles, especially wedding celebrations. The best of the best dancers taught the steps to the newly trainable performers, and the court participated in the performances. In the sixteenth century, Catherine de Medici, an Italian noblewoman, began to fund ballet in the French court. Her opera house classics encouraged the popularity and widespread enjoyment of ballet de cour, a program that included dancing, stage scenery, costumes, magnificently sung songs, music and poetry.
Training itself to be an artist in ballet is somewhat close to a nightmare. Barre, is a wooden or metal rail horizontally mounted on the wall. or on a steady mount on an open floor. A ballerina would put one hand on the barre for balance and do multiple combinations and exercises. One of the most painful and difficult exercises performed on barre is the ronde jambe (french for circle of the leg). The ballerina would hold her already turned out leg at a ninety degree angle and move it horizontally 180 degrees ending in a less strained …show more content…
arabesque.
Centre work is just as difficult. Ballerinas practise jumps (grand jete), turns (Chaine, pique), or in a danseurs case, lifts. These dancers spend hours upon hours practising these back breaking, technique ridden performance pieces. If a dancer does not “spot” properly, then they will most likely pass out or vomit. Spotting during turns prevents the performer from getting dizzy. A grand Jete is one of the most difficult jumps in the ballet world, and certainly one of the most recognizable. The dancer will brush their front foot up and accomplish a mid air split.
Ballerinas already have enough difficulty executing turns and jumps with perfection, but on top of all that, they are being asked to do so on the tip of their toes. Pointe shoes are basically a type of shoe specifically made for the purpose of ballet. The shoe consists of a pink, silk, fabric with a solid toe box and vamp restricting the ballerinas foot movement. Thousands upon thousands of broken ankles are the toxic result of these dangerous shoes.
Foot injuries: The articulatio plana connects the lower leg to the foot and, in dance, permits for tondue of (pointing) the toe (plantar flexion) and flexing the foot throughout plié (dorsiflexion). The mortise joint conjointly permits for inversion and eversion, forcing turn-in and turn-out, severally. The twenty six bones within the foot add stability with ligamentous support and muscular force to form three separate arches, important for shock absorption throughout jumps. Structurally, the best foot for ballet is thought to be grotesquely flexible “square foot”, that has equal-length first and second toes.
Knee injuries: The knee will typically extend "beyond straight", causing a convexity of the leg posteriorly (towards the back).
This extension of the knees is assumed by some to enrich the aesthetic of the leg with a pointed foot. In dancers, this typically indicates a general predisposition towards ligamentous neglectfulness. The dancer could notice different joints of the body with similar extension. Ballet dancers generally show a lot of of a trend towards this extension of the knees. The issue arises once the dancer "locks" back into his or her knees, or has an extreme quantity of flexibility within the knee (looser ligaments/significant quantity of hyperextension) and furthermore places undue stress on the knee and lower leg instead of using muscle strength for stance.
Hip injuries: Stress fractures of the femoral neck don't seem to be as common as alternative conditions illustrated here, however they will occur with dancers. recurrent coaching with either faulty technique or muscle imbalance will increase the danger for a break. Dancers usually notice pain within the groin, hip girdle, or anterior thigh. Symptoms will occur throughout or after sessions and may be induced with passive movement and stretching, notably internal rotation of the hip or turn-in. A medical practitioner could request an X-ray or bone scan to verify the
diagnosis.
Ballerinas are expected to maintain a rather masculine but elegant form with broad shoulders, small hips, practically nonexistent breasts and buttocks. the concept is to force the body produce straight lines and fluid curves while dancing. Females have a lot more fat tissue than men due to breasts and fatty tissue generally around hips and buttocks, however since ballerinas are expected to have a less female form, their weight could be slightly lower than that for the common woman. Jenifer Ringer and a male dancer were singled out by critic Alastair Macaulay after he attended a performance of the holiday classic by the professionally famed New York City Ballet.
“Jenifer Ringer, as the Sugar Plum Fairy, looked as if she’d eaten one sugar plum too many,”(Alastair Macaulay)Macaulay wrote in a review published three days later in The Times. The critics surrounding ballet are vicious and these types of personal attacks are usually some of the most damaging to the artist. “It made me feel bad. It is embarrassing to see something bad written about yourself in print. I had to tell myself that was one person’s opinion out of 2,000 people who were there,...”(Jenifer Ringer) A ballerina who overcame anorexia doesn’t need or want an apology from the New York Times critic who made a stab about her weight in a review of “The Nutcracker,” she proceeded by saying the comment was hurtful initially but it was just part of being a professional in a career that demands perfection from those who pursue it. Anorexia Nervosa is a lack or loss of appetite for food (as a medical condition). It is an psychosomatic disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat. "The problem is much more common in middle- and upper-class women, particularly white women and young women under 25,'' Dr. Warren said. ''Dance is one of the worst areas. The average incidence of eating disorders in the white middle-class population is 1 in 100. In classical ballet, it is one in five.''(Dr. Warren) Many ballerinas feel the continuous pressure to be thin and graceful, and they seem to be willing to obtain at any cost, even their health. Anorexia Nervosa leaves the body malnourished and severely emaciated, furthermore; accomplishing the goals to be thin but throwing away the goal of being strong and able to execute the choreography. They are showered in praise by those who saw them as the epitome of control and discipline. They all are a part of the corps de ballet, a perfect conformity of women moving and breathing as one. Performers bond like a proud army, sharing the experience of bleeding toes, muscle fatigue, injury, exhaustion, and hunger. After hours of practice, there were moments of transcendence in which they finally achieve an ethereal unity of movement. “Body dysmorphic disorder involves an excessive preoccupation with one or more body parts,” says Dr. Linda Hamilton, a psychologist who works primarily with dancers, including those at New York City Ballet . A minor or imagined defect will cause acute stress that’s ongoing—you’ll almost never feel comfortable with your appearance in some places, like class.” (Holmes) In many cases, BDD goes hand in hand with clinical depression or an anxiety disorder. The condition might be triggered by experiencing multiple traumatic events, such as harsh comments from a teacher about a disliked body part. BDD symptoms can emerge when combined with factors like self-criticism and low self-esteem. That’s what happened to 22-year-old dancer Danielle, who developed mild body dysmorphia as a teen. “I’m taller than most girls I’ve danced with, with long, lanky legs but a short, squatty torso,” she says. “I feel gangly and chubby at the same time. I hate to watch videos of myself dancing. I’ll deliberately look at anyone else in the frame.” At her lowest point, Danielle began experiencing panic attacks concerning her appearance. Only when she shared her fears and troubles with a friend did she discover that her body concerns went beyond the average dancer’s. Depression is a feeling of severe despondency and dejection caused by psychosomatic affairs. Contrary to many uninformed persons Depression is a true medical disorder, like retardation or ulcers. This disorder, however common, is extremely elusive. The danger lies in the possibility and ultimate consequences. Depression has been defined as a gateway disorder. Self-harm. (the act of intentionally harming your own body, such as cutting, burning, or etcetera...) in all likelihood is an unseen partner in the depression. But the real harm lies in the end result.(If not caught in time)...Suicide. One cannot simply "get over it" like you would from a short case of the blues. Instead, symptoms of depression usually last for many weeks or even years as a results of chemistry changes inside the brain, creating feelings of disappointment that consume your mind. Worrying and irritability are common, as are problems with concentration and memory. It is undeniably proven to be tough to focus, sleep, dance, or even have enough energy to go on with your daily activities. One 18-year-old dance student had to need a leave of absence from his school due to a severe episode of major depression that impaired his performance to such an extent that he constantly overslept, missed dance classes, and forgot ballet recitals. He also struggled with minor physical complications associated with depression, as well as frequent headaches and other biological issues. When a child is young, learning new things is less complicated for them. they will adapt and learn more quickly than after they grow older. So, once a child begins in ballet at an early age, they are not only learning a highly respected art form but also being trained for the life that awaits them. This can be just the start though. As a child continues to pursue ballet, you may see a lot of advantages emerging – particularly after they become adolescents and into the teen years.
Ballet itself improves flexibility and muscle strength and tone; it is the advantage of defining the prowess of the whole body. Above all, it strengthens abdominal and and improves posture. It also can be an exceptional outlet, serving to to alleviate stress and anxiety. In addition to sweating out toxins, there's a lower risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, and bone loss.
The kind of harm that comes from countless hours every day enduring rigorous training is one of the most prominent downfalls of the art. They move as if they do not weigh anything in the least ;however, that is a fastidiously crafted illusion: They move that way as a result of the intensely integrated technique. They blend that strength with a grace that comes from repeating the same moves over and over and over until it is legitimately perfect. It breaks a body. Most ballet dancers are utterly shot by their mid-20s, and many can suffer chronic disabilities from the effort. Pound for pound, ballerinas are one of the most intense athletes out there. It will be no surprise that feeding disorders are rampant among ballerinas. Don't let the fluidity and charm fool you, these dedicated athletes are some of the most vulnerable to harm no matter how perfectly fit they may seem.
in Renaissance Italy and established its present form during the 19th century, is characterized by light, graceful, fluid movements and the use of pointe shoes.” (Google)
Ballet originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the fifteenth century.
Noblemen and women were treated to grand spectacles, especially wedding celebrations. The best of the best dancers taught the steps to the newly trainable performers, and the court participated in the performances. In the sixteenth century, Catherine de Medici, an Italian noblewoman, began to fund ballet in the French court. Her opera house classics encouraged the popularity and widespread enjoyment of ballet de cour, a program that included dancing, stage scenery, costumes, magnificently sung songs, music and poetry.
Training itself to be an artist in ballet is somewhat close to a nightmare. Barre, is a wooden or metal rail horizontally mounted on the wall. or on a steady mount on an open floor. A ballerina would put one hand on the barre for balance and do multiple combinations and exercises. One of the most painful and difficult exercises performed on barre is the ronde jambe (french for circle of the leg). The ballerina would hold her already turned out leg at a ninety degree angle and move it horizontally 180 degrees ending in a less strained …show more content…
arabesque.
Centre work is just as difficult. Ballerinas practise jumps (grand jete), turns (Chaine, pique), or in a danseurs case, lifts. These dancers spend hours upon hours practising these back breaking, technique ridden performance pieces. If a dancer does not “spot” properly, then they will most likely pass out or vomit. Spotting during turns prevents the performer from getting dizzy. A grand Jete is one of the most difficult jumps in the ballet world, and certainly one of the most recognizable. The dancer will brush their front foot up and accomplish a mid air split.
Ballerinas already have enough difficulty executing turns and jumps with perfection, but on top of all that, they are being asked to do so on the tip of their toes. Pointe shoes are basically a type of shoe specifically made for the purpose of ballet. The shoe consists of a pink, silk, fabric with a solid toe box and vamp restricting the ballerinas foot movement. Thousands upon thousands of broken ankles are the toxic result of these dangerous shoes.
Foot injuries: The articulatio plana connects the lower leg to the foot and, in dance, permits for tondue of (pointing) the toe (plantar flexion) and flexing the foot throughout plié (dorsiflexion). The mortise joint conjointly permits for inversion and eversion, forcing turn-in and turn-out, severally. The twenty six bones within the foot add stability with ligamentous support and muscular force to form three separate arches, important for shock absorption throughout jumps. Structurally, the best foot for ballet is thought to be grotesquely flexible “square foot”, that has equal-length first and second toes.
Knee injuries: The knee will typically extend "beyond straight", causing a convexity of the leg posteriorly (towards the back).
This extension of the knees is assumed by some to enrich the aesthetic of the leg with a pointed foot. In dancers, this typically indicates a general predisposition towards ligamentous neglectfulness. The dancer could notice different joints of the body with similar extension. Ballet dancers generally show a lot of of a trend towards this extension of the knees. The issue arises once the dancer "locks" back into his or her knees, or has an extreme quantity of flexibility within the knee (looser ligaments/significant quantity of hyperextension) and furthermore places undue stress on the knee and lower leg instead of using muscle strength for stance.
Hip injuries: Stress fractures of the femoral neck don't seem to be as common as alternative conditions illustrated here, however they will occur with dancers. recurrent coaching with either faulty technique or muscle imbalance will increase the danger for a break. Dancers usually notice pain within the groin, hip girdle, or anterior thigh. Symptoms will occur throughout or after sessions and may be induced with passive movement and stretching, notably internal rotation of the hip or turn-in. A medical practitioner could request an X-ray or bone scan to verify the
diagnosis.
Ballerinas are expected to maintain a rather masculine but elegant form with broad shoulders, small hips, practically nonexistent breasts and buttocks. the concept is to force the body produce straight lines and fluid curves while dancing. Females have a lot more fat tissue than men due to breasts and fatty tissue generally around hips and buttocks, however since ballerinas are expected to have a less female form, their weight could be slightly lower than that for the common woman. Jenifer Ringer and a male dancer were singled out by critic Alastair Macaulay after he attended a performance of the holiday classic by the professionally famed New York City Ballet.
“Jenifer Ringer, as the Sugar Plum Fairy, looked as if she’d eaten one sugar plum too many,”(Alastair Macaulay)Macaulay wrote in a review published three days later in The Times. The critics surrounding ballet are vicious and these types of personal attacks are usually some of the most damaging to the artist. “It made me feel bad. It is embarrassing to see something bad written about yourself in print. I had to tell myself that was one person’s opinion out of 2,000 people who were there,...”(Jenifer Ringer) A ballerina who overcame anorexia doesn’t need or want an apology from the New York Times critic who made a stab about her weight in a review of “The Nutcracker,” she proceeded by saying the comment was hurtful initially but it was just part of being a professional in a career that demands perfection from those who pursue it. Anorexia Nervosa is a lack or loss of appetite for food (as a medical condition). It is an psychosomatic disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat. "The problem is much more common in middle- and upper-class women, particularly white women and young women under 25,'' Dr. Warren said. ''Dance is one of the worst areas. The average incidence of eating disorders in the white middle-class population is 1 in 100. In classical ballet, it is one in five.''(Dr. Warren) Many ballerinas feel the continuous pressure to be thin and graceful, and they seem to be willing to obtain at any cost, even their health. Anorexia Nervosa leaves the body malnourished and severely emaciated, furthermore; accomplishing the goals to be thin but throwing away the goal of being strong and able to execute the choreography. They are showered in praise by those who saw them as the epitome of control and discipline. They all are a part of the corps de ballet, a perfect conformity of women moving and breathing as one. Performers bond like a proud army, sharing the experience of bleeding toes, muscle fatigue, injury, exhaustion, and hunger. After hours of practice, there were moments of transcendence in which they finally achieve an ethereal unity of movement. “Body dysmorphic disorder involves an excessive preoccupation with one or more body parts,” says Dr. Linda Hamilton, a psychologist who works primarily with dancers, including those at New York City Ballet . A minor or imagined defect will cause acute stress that’s ongoing—you’ll almost never feel comfortable with your appearance in some places, like class.” (Holmes) In many cases, BDD goes hand in hand with clinical depression or an anxiety disorder. The condition might be triggered by experiencing multiple traumatic events, such as harsh comments from a teacher about a disliked body part. BDD symptoms can emerge when combined with factors like self-criticism and low self-esteem. That’s what happened to 22-year-old dancer Danielle, who developed mild body dysmorphia as a teen. “I’m taller than most girls I’ve danced with, with long, lanky legs but a short, squatty torso,” she says. “I feel gangly and chubby at the same time. I hate to watch videos of myself dancing. I’ll deliberately look at anyone else in the frame.” At her lowest point, Danielle began experiencing panic attacks concerning her appearance. Only when she shared her fears and troubles with a friend did she discover that her body concerns went beyond the average dancer’s. Depression is a feeling of severe despondency and dejection caused by psychosomatic affairs. Contrary to many uninformed persons Depression is a true medical disorder, like retardation or ulcers. This disorder, however common, is extremely elusive. The danger lies in the possibility and ultimate consequences. Depression has been defined as a gateway disorder. Self-harm. (the act of intentionally harming your own body, such as cutting, burning, or etcetera...) in all likelihood is an unseen partner in the depression. But the real harm lies in the end result.(If not caught in time)...Suicide. One cannot simply "get over it" like you would from a short case of the blues. Instead, symptoms of depression usually last for many weeks or even years as a results of chemistry changes inside the brain, creating feelings of disappointment that consume your mind. Worrying and irritability are common, as are problems with concentration and memory. It is undeniably proven to be tough to focus, sleep, dance, or even have enough energy to go on with your daily activities. One 18-year-old dance student had to need a leave of absence from his school due to a severe episode of major depression that impaired his performance to such an extent that he constantly overslept, missed dance classes, and forgot ballet recitals. He also struggled with minor physical complications associated with depression, as well as frequent headaches and other biological issues. When a child is young, learning new things is less complicated for them. they will adapt and learn more quickly than after they grow older. So, once a child begins in ballet at an early age, they are not only learning a highly respected art form but also being trained for the life that awaits them. This can be just the start though. As a child continues to pursue ballet, you may see a lot of advantages emerging – particularly after they become adolescents and into the teen years.
Ballet itself improves flexibility and muscle strength and tone; it is the advantage of defining the prowess of the whole body. Above all, it strengthens abdominal and and improves posture. It also can be an exceptional outlet, serving to to alleviate stress and anxiety. In addition to sweating out toxins, there's a lower risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, and bone loss.
The kind of harm that comes from countless hours every day enduring rigorous training is one of the most prominent downfalls of the art. They move as if they do not weigh anything in the least ;however, that is a fastidiously crafted illusion: They move that way as a result of the intensely integrated technique. They blend that strength with a grace that comes from repeating the same moves over and over and over until it is legitimately perfect. It breaks a body. Most ballet dancers are utterly shot by their mid-20s, and many can suffer chronic disabilities from the effort. Pound for pound, ballerinas are one of the most intense athletes out there. It will be no surprise that feeding disorders are rampant among ballerinas. Don't let the fluidity and charm fool you, these dedicated athletes are some of the most vulnerable to harm no matter how perfectly fit they may seem.