Ballet is an art form that has been developed for hundreds of
years. Classical ballet places emphasis on grace and beauty in
movement.
One of the first things that is learnt in ballet is the position of
the arms and feet. There are five "basic" positions for the feet:
- First position: Stand with the heels together and the toes turned
out. Turnout is very important in ballet, as it allows execution of
some of the movements in a much easier manner.
- Second position: From first position, the feet are moved apart.
The distance between them is debatable. When learning, shoulder
width apart is usually most comfortable.
- Third position: One foot is brought slightly in front of the
other, so that the heel of the front foot is touching the arch of the
back foot. This is used mainly as a "training" position for fifth
position.
- Fourth position: From third position, the front foot is slid
forward and placed so it lines up with the back foot.
- Fifth position: From fourth position, the front foot is slid back
until the heel is touching the big toe of the front foot.
There are six "basic" positions for the arms.
- Bras bas: The arms are held in front of the body and are slightly
curved.
- First position: The arms are held as in bras bas, except in front
of the body, at about chest level.
- Second position: From first position, the arms are opened and held
outwards.
- Third position: One arm is held as if it first position, and the
other arm is held as if in second position.
- Fourth position: This position is with one arm held in fifth (see
below) and the other held either as in first or second.
- Fifth position: From first position, the arms are raised above the
head, making a nice rounded shape.
Basic exercises are often done at the barre, a wooden rod for
dancers to hold to help keep their balance when they are learning.
One of the basic movements is pliés, in which dancers
stand in any of the five positions and bend their knees. A demi
plié has dancers bending their knees about half way, and a
grande plié has dancers bending their knees almost all the
way.
Another basic movement is battement tendus. Dancers move one foot forward by
sliding it along the floor, and end up pointing it. This can also
be done to the sides and the back.
Battement glissés are done in a similar fashion to battement
tendus, but are quicker and the foot rises off the floor several
inches. It is usually a sharp movement.
These are only a few of the barre exercises. Many more are
practised, but in the sake of space, I will move on.
Floor exercises are done in a large space. They include slower or
"adage" exercises, port de bras or arm movements, pirouettes, and
faster, or "allegro" movements.
Ballet is performed by both men and women, but professional
ballerinas (female ballet dancers) generally wear pointe shoes.
Pointe shoes are specially designed shoes which have toes made of
paper maché or cloth and glue layers. The pointe shoes are
covered in satin and are tied on the dancer's feet with ribbon.
Pointe shoes allow ballerinas to stand on the tips of their
toes.
Ballets are usually performed by a large company, with an
orchestra, sets, lights, and beautiful costumes. Ballerinas will
usually wear tutus, short, stiff skirt made to show of their legs
movements. Professional classical ballets, which incorporate elements of
mime, can be quite beautiful and moving.
As I am not an expert on modern ballet, I will leave that for
someone else.