Welcome back! In this
entry, I'll detail how ballet and jazz affect the human body. But if you missed Part 1 of this five-part series, be sure to start there!
Precision and Improvisation
Ballet is a graceful,
formal, and classic style of dance characterized by precise movements, the lines
made by a dancer's body, and sometimes even a representation of a story. Jazz,
on the other hand, is freer and more improvisational in choreography. It's also
influenced by music ranging from big-band swing to blues to rock and pop, and is
filled with much more attitude. Ballet and jazz are closely related in that the
movements have similar technique, and both suggest soft-soled shoes (i.e.,
leather).
Strength, Spotting and Shape
Turns are a huge part of
ballet and jazz. Whether a dancer is performing fouettes, prioutettes, or
chaines, a strong core is required for proper execution. With fouettes, the
supporting leg is bent while the working leg whips to the side, providing
momentum for the turn. Then the working leg is pulled into the supporting knee
while going up on the tip of the supporting foot. Pirouettes involve a turn on
one leg while chaines are turns on alternating feet.
The tightening of the abdominal
muscles is what keeps the dancer's body balanced while turning. Spotting, or
keeping the eyes focused on a stationary point by forcing the head to whip
around as quickly as possible (so that the "spot" is out of vision for a very
short time), is also crucial to a dancer's success.
Interestingly, turning is easier
for males than females. A man's body is shaped like a top, with his center of
gravity fairly high because of his broader shoulders. By contrast, a woman's
body is shaped more like an hourglass or pear. Imagine spinning a top and an
hourglass on a tabletop. Which one is more balanced and spins longer?
 Pointe Your Toes
Ballet and jazz are very
hard on the feet. Because a dancer's toes are pointed so much, the arch of the
foot can become cramped very easily. Landing jumps, whether they be grand jetes
(a jump starting on one leg and landing on the other) or calypsos (also
switching legs from take-off to landing, but with the back leg bent), require
proper positioning of the feet and legs in order to avoid a fall (or a loud
"thump" upon reaching the ground).
Pointe is a form a ballet that
requires special shoes with wooden blocks in the toe. This type of dance can
easily cause blisters and bleeding, and may be especially painful. Pointe
requires significant ankle strength, as dancers are on the tips of their toes
and must support all of their weight there. Imagine the free-body diagram of
that point force, and then realize that is your foot!
Proper Posture
Especially if taken at an
early age, ballet and jazz can give students excellent posture for the rest of
their lives (my piano teacher was always astounded that she never had to
correct how I sat while playing). These two specialties can also make other
forms of dance much easier, as they give you a good foundation to start on. Though
I had done other dancing in the past, I attribute my ability to pick up
ballroom dancing so easily to my years as a ballerina; I already grasped the
necessary posture and balance.
As
I hope I've demonstrated here in Part 2, even the light, pristine dances can
take a toll on a dancer's body. I hope you have found this biomechanical
perspective on ballet and jazz to be of interest, and that you'll join me next
time for Part 3 on Tap, Clogging, and Irish step. Until then, may your days be
full of graceful attitude!
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