Article:
Traditional ballet teachers can seem fussy about the dress code
in their studios. There is a reason for this.
When a teacher is looking over a class in motion, visual clutter
needs to be at a minimum. Black leotards and pink tights are a
good uniform landscape for the teacher.
The black of the leotard emphasizes the line of the posture, the
upper back and neck suppleness/tension, the hip/leg break and
alignment correctness, and makes it easiest to respond to what
is seen with ongoing and detailed corrections.
For instance, it is easy to see, even across a large studio, if
the back of the thigh is not pulled up as needed, if the dancer
is wearing pink tights. The line of the muscles is hidden in
dark tights. It is also easy to see bulky tension in thigh
muscles that should be more elongated.
Distractions such as multi-colored clothing, and sloppy leg
warmers prevent the teacher from being at their top efficiency,
Just like office folk get to wear more casual clothes to work on
Fridays, my student-day classes were allowed to wear colored
leotards and black tights on Saturdays. We pushed it, and came
to class with bright leg warmers, print head bands and jewelry
just bigger than the allowed tiny stud pierced earrings. We were
always asked to remove the tiniest of neck chains.
Of course there were always cold winter days when sweaters and
body-length woolies were necessary. And it's not like a teacher
can't see plain bad placement through all that, but finer
details are hidden.
The artistry of ballet depends on the ultra-perfectionistic and
over-idealized form being sought, and then being surrendered to
an allowing energy flow, that releases expression and drama.
I wish I could say that a better, but all I'm really talking
about is that the norm for strict ballet wear that any ballet
store provides, ultimately supports the best results for ballet
exercises, ballet for weight loss, ballet strengthening
regimens, pointe work et al, as it allows the teacher to see
what's going on in a large class full of diverse talent.
Dianne M. Buxton is a graduate of the National Ballet School of
Canada. She taught at, and choreographed for The National Ballet
School, York University, and George Brown College, in Canada,
and taught at Harvard University in the U.S.
shoes, pointe shoes, strengthening exercises, dance news, dance
books, ballet forum,diet and health for dancers,DVD's and
more.
About the author:
Dianne M. Buxton is a graduate of the National Ballet School of
Canada. She taught at, and choreographed for The National Ballet
School, York University, and George Brown College, in Canada,
and taught at Harvard University in the U.S.
shoes, pointe shoes, strengthening exercises, dance news, dance
books, ballet forum,diet and health for dancers,DVD's and
more.
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