Body ballet
Body ballet is a fitness class built on the exercises of classical ballet, done at the barre, in the centre of the room and on the mat. It is especially popular in Ukraine and elsewhere in Eastern Europe. Unlike a ballet class, it does not prepare you for a performance: it uses ballet movements to work on posture, the muscles of the legs and core, and flexibility.
What it is for
Section titled “What it is for”- Posture: a long spine, open shoulders and a lifted head, as in ballet.
- Strong, toned legs, buttocks and core.
- Flexibility and graceful movement, including work for the arms (port de bras).
- Coordination and balance.
- Compared with Barre, it stays closer to real ballet technique — the positions of the feet and arms, turnout, clean lines — with more stretching and fewer weights.
Equipment
Section titled “Equipment”- Fitted clothes — a leotard, or leggings and a close top — so that the lines of the body are visible.
- Soft ballet shoes, socks or bare feet; ask the studio what it prefers.
- A mat for floor work. The barre and mats are at the studio.
- Water, and long hair tied back.
How a class goes
Section titled “How a class goes”- Usually about an hour, often to classical or calm instrumental music.
- A warm-up for the joints and the spine.
- Work at the barre: the positions of the feet, bends of the knees (pliés), sliding the foot along the floor (battements tendus), rises onto the balls of the feet and leg lifts. The trainer explains the ballet terms as you go.
- Exercises in the centre for balance and the arms, sometimes a short, simple combination.
- Floor work for the core, and stretching — often towards the splits.
- In a first class you learn the basic positions and how to stand. Turnout, turning the legs out from the hips, is kept within what your hips comfortably allow.
Who it suits best
Section titled “Who it suits best”- Adults with no dance background who want the posture and grace of ballet without learning a routine.
- People who danced as children and want to come back gently.
- Those who sit a lot and want to work on posture.
- Anybody who likes calm, precise work to beautiful music.
- If you want to learn ballet as a dance, see Ballet for adults. Body ballet suits less somebody looking for cardio. With knee, hip or back problems, do not force the turnout and tell the trainer; in pregnancy, ask your doctor first.