(Photo credit: fingle)
Last week ABP profiled Scott, who runs In the Wings and LoveBallet89, here. Enjoy his post on advice for men in ballet!
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“You take ballet?” “Seriously?”
That’s usually the reaction I get when people find out that I dance.
Let’s face it, ballet is an outside the box activity for an adult, period, much less for an adult male.
Men, especially in the South where I live, hunt and fish. They play golf. They play softball.
They don’t dance.
That’s one reason why I wrestled with the idea of returning to what was somewhat of a hidden passion as a teenager and a college student (I danced, absolutely loved it, but did my best to hide it from my friends, something I regret now).
I’m glad I got up the nerve to dance again. It freaks people out sometimes, but I no longer hide it from my friends. Heck, I even perform sometimes.
So why would a man possibly even want to take ballet?
For one, it is a healthy activity. I’ve had a few things that have happened in my life that make me want to strive for a healthier lifestyle. It’s also a good stress reliever. It’s a challenge, a very hard hobby to just pick up. It’s a lot more athletic than people realize.
But most of all, for me, it’s fun.
So if you’re a guy like me who has suddenly worked up the nerve to actually to plunge into a ballet class, here’s a few words of advice.
1. Search online for the right studio to take classes from. Don’t be afraid to call or email studios. Look for ones that are A.) adult friendly and B.) aren’t freaked out by the idea of having a man in class. I live in a medium-sized town, but commute 30 miles away to a larger town because I’ve found a place that’s a better fit for me. A hint: Pre-pro schools with performing companies are your best option over a “Little Miss Susie School.”
2. Don’t “fret” over the “wearing the tights” issue. Why? If you’re in an adult class, or an open class (“open to all”), the dress code is laid back. You won’t be required to wear them. Sweat pants, shorts are usually OK. But if you are bold enough to wear them (not easy to buy, especially online), wear a dance belt (a dancer’s athletic supporter).
3. Don’t be intimidated by being thrown into an almost all-female environment. The smaller the community, the more likely you’ll be the only guy in class and you’ll have a woman teacher. That was the way it was for me for three years. Just be yourself. If you’re serious about ballet, the women in class will greatly encourage you. But if you get a chance to take a class with a male teacher and other guys, do. We do move differently than women.
4. Don’t be afraid of the dreaded stigma. I have found the stereotypes for men dancing not to be true. Most of the men I’ve been in class with or performed with aren’t gay. While ballet is known for its beauty and grace, and for women a very feminine thing, for men, the longer you take class, it’s amazingly athletic and powerful. It’s not all tutus, tiaras and pointe shoes.
There’s a lot more I could say, but I’ll save it for another time. George Balanchine once said “Ballet is Woman,” but he and other great ballet masters have taught and choreographed otherwise. We do have our place.
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