Why should boys consider training in classical ballet? Not only is it a great place to meet girls, ballet training develops agility, creative thinking, discipline, and a work ethic that translates into success in any field of study. In addition, more athletic training programs are turning to ballet to increase coordination, flexibility, strength, precision, control and stamina. Numerous professional athletes credit their athletic success to ballet training and considering the benefits to range of motion, speed, and balance. Your image of the ballet dancer may be of one running around in tights. But this is not much different than wearing tights and a helmet and running after a ball? I’m just sayin’… Most of your heros you grew up loving or watching on TV, in theater, playing basketball, football, or in your action movies have been in contact with ballet to improve their skills.
Perhaps your only experience of ballet has been enduring the annual ballet performance of your sister and 100 other girls dancing on their toes and the token boy trying to hold his own. Consider the possibility of what ballet training for “boys only” class can do for you, take a moment and watch this from Youtube:
Consider this…an interview was done for Sports Illustrated about the secrets to NFL players staying in shape and preparing for games. It all started in the 1970’s when former Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver and 2001 inductee in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Lynn Swan, claimed his ballet training greatly improved his athletic skills and helped him become a better football player. Like Swann, former New York Jets wide receiver Al Toon trained in dance and believes his exposure to ballet contributed indirectly to his often stellar performance on the playing field.Ever since then, NFL coaches have pushed players into taking ballet classes for strength. In 1990, the Washington Post reported that Broncos wide receiver Vance Johnson studied ballet, and in 1999, the Dayton Daily News revealed that Bengals quarterback Akili Smith’s “grueling offseason” included ballet. A comprehensive 1991 feature in the Los Angeles Daily News revealed that Randall Cunningham did ballet to rehab from various injuries. The piece also quoted numerous college coaches saying they used dance as a training regimen and had done so for a long time. Al Toon, former New York Jets wide receiver, noted that he had studied dance. He told the UPI (United Press International) that ballet lessons “helped me learn to position my body to help me, quote, break tackles.” Willie Gault, Chicago Bears Super Bowl Champion, put his helmet and pads aside and donned tights to dance with the Chicago City Ballet. “I always wanted to study ballet,” says Gault, who majored in business administration at the University of Tennessee, “but I couldn’t get into any class in college because you needed high school prerequisites, and I didn’t have any.” (People Magazine, 1986)Other successful football players –Herschel Walker, Barry Sanders for instance – have also turned to dance to enhance their skills.
The Chicago Bulls used to train in the off-season with that city’s famed Joffrey Ballet troupe during The Jordan Rules era.
The whole team from the University of Memphis has to take yoga and ballet classes for flexibility and agility. They even admit, “Women can do a lot of things men can’t do. So think twice before saying dance or yoga are for sissies… Because you don’t really get it until you try it like many NFL stars have.”
And if that’s not enough to convince you that ballet is for tough guys, remember that even Batman does ballet. Christian Bale, the actor who plays the strapping superhero, studied classical ballet as a young boy. And look where he ended up.
There’s an athleticism that is often underappreciated.“No dancer ever became successful riding on their natural born talents only. Dancers are artists and athletes. The world of dance today is akin to an extreme sport. Natural ability and talent will only get us so far. Dancers must work hard and persevere. Dancers give years of their lives plus their sweat, tears and sometimes blood to have the honor and pleasure of performing on stage.” (theportlandballet.org/blog-page)
But of course, there is just one minor detail that hasn’t been addressed…
“It’s not exactly macho.”
It’s not considered manly, I know, but it’s just a stereotype.
In my opinion, there is nothing more attractive and masculine than a man that can dance well…not to mention, ballet is athletic.
Injuries that a dancer may endure are dislocated shoulders, ailing knees, pulled muscles and ligaments, etc. Not unlike that of a football, basketball, baseball player or any other athlete for that matter. Ballet is a sport unto itself. It’s just done more as an art form rather than pounding on people. Men carry 105 to 110-pound female dancers with one arm over their heads. And they do it without making it look hard. I’ll never forget when I was a shy, unnoticed Senior, how an entire high school auditorium filled with rowdy, red-necked peers went to a “pin drop” silence when my partner easily picked me up above his head, then burst into cheers and applause…it was one of the greatest moments of my life!
Still not convinced…try it, for FREE! In fact, there is no charge for boys, EVER! Now, what’s your excuse…
The truth is that ballet improves your balance, your speed, flexibility, and concentration. It gives you everything you need to be a better athlete…and a handsome man!