Adult Ballet at Sonoma Ballet Conservatory

The thought of ‘ballet classes’ probably evokes certain images and feelings....tutu-clad 4 year olds spinning and leaping to music box tinkerings, or an older and professional ballerina wearing pointe shoes and stretching in some pretty incredible ways (some might say painful and awkward ways).  And while these are realities in most ballet schools and professional companies, ballet class doesn’t have to be for just the professionals and little ones aspiring to greatness.

Adult ballet is a great form of exercise for the mind and body; it incorporates strengthening exercises for the entire body, as well as stretching, and if you’re someone who looks for a challenge, ballet will provide that both physically and mentally.  Dancers have always been targeted as a group with enviable bodies, and the technique of their art is a large reason why dancers have those long and lean muscles.  Ballet looks effortless and dancers often look as though they are weightless because of the way they’ve been trained to use their muscles and bodies.   Yes, dancers receive years and years of training to achieve this look, but that doesn’t mean that adults can’t also achieve this look and also benefit from the training of ballet.

With spring just around the corner, maybe you’re looking for a great new workout to get you into shape for summer, perhaps you’ve always enjoyed dance and been curious about trying it yourself, or maybe you took classes long ago and are itching to get back into it.  Whatever your reason, we’d love to have you at Adult Ballet at Sonoma Ballet Conservatory!  We welcome dancers of all ages and levels (and no, pink tights and leotards are not required)!  Classes cover barre and center work as well as supplemental stretching and strengthening exercises.  Our Wednesday and Friday 9am adult classes place emphasis on proper alignment and posture, ensuring safe and sound technique, increasing strength and flexibility, and of course encouraging and developing a love for movement and music. 

Visit the SBC webiste by clicking here for more information or give us a call at (707) 938-1424.  We’ll be happy to answer any questions and we hope to see you soon!

En Pointe

Ah pointe shoes... they are the glamorous carrot held in front of every aspiring dancer's nose as she grows and gets stronger, yearning for the day when she can have her own pair of the shiny slippers.  While beautiful and elegant, these shoes have to serve a realistic purpose for their owners as well.  Here are some great videos on how dancers prepare their pointe shoes and some insight as to the traditions and work that's behind the effortlessness of pointe work.

http://www.torontostandard.com/video/national-ballet-of-canada-video-on-location
http://vimeo.com/32279917

Boys in Ballet

We wanted to share a great video about boys and ballet from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, click here to check it out.  As this video points out, too often we think of ballet as a "girl's thing", when in fact, male dancers are some of the fittest and strongest athletes and undergo rigorous training to get to the top of their game.  For some other interesting insights about males in the dance world (and how great they can be!), check out our interview with SBC dancer James Melendy.  Below is the text interview, enjoy!

An Amazing Alvin Ailey Dancer!

NATASHA THIELE, REPORTER: Their grace, poise and energy flows through their movements. For these guys, ballet dancing isn't about tutus and ribbons. It's about athleticism, art, strength and of course fun!

BRODY: It's just an amazing sport.

TOM: Just everything about it. Just the jumps, the power the girls yeah.

DYLAN: My mum decided, you know Dylan, you're too much of a jock, you're going to do ballet.

BRANDYN: You need to have the mind for it, you need to be able to think.

So what is ballet all about? Ballet is a French word meaning 'dance'. Although ballet is thought to have started in Italy, it developed greatly in France in the 1600s. At that time, only men were allowed to dance ballet. It wasn't until a bit later that women were allowed to join in. And it's that French connection that gives us some of these French names like plie meaning to bend your knees and pirouette to whirl around.

And ballet isn't just popular on the stage. It's also made the leap onto our TV screens in numerous talent shows and even dramas like Dance Academy. Ballet is a great way to keep fit and the physique of a ballet dancer is important. A male ballet dancer needs good core strength. Their legs need to support the weight of the ballerina. And their arms and back must be able to handle lifts.

Even though ballet's a graceful art, the intense physical training involved means ballet dancers are often compared to top athletes. A university study in the UK found the overall fitness of ballet dancers is greater than the fitness of professional swimmers and rugby players. They were tested for things like their strength, endurance, balance and flexibility.

The study found ballet dancers and rugby players were similar in that they train really hard, often putting long-term strain on their bodies and they're vulnerable to picking-up injuries through their intense training. But when it came to strength, rugby players tended to be strong in shorter bursts, whereas ballet dancers were able to maintain their strength for a longer period of time. A lot of that pressure is concentrated on the feet of the ballet dancer. And that's why the type of shoes they wear need to be flexible and comfortable.

REPORTER: Girls ballet shoes usually look a bit like this. But if you get the special training, you get to wear point shoes. The ends of these shoes have a flat bit called a block, which allow them to get on to their tippy-toes. But the guys have the standard ballet shoes.

Even if you're not keen on ballet, there are lots of opportunities and other avenues of theatre and dance to get involved in. But for now, these ballet dancers are hoping the art of dance with point them in the right direction!