Teachers constantly remind their pupils that ballet is the foundation of all dance and must be studied in accordance with other dance techniques. This is due to a number of reasons: it is still the most relevant technical training and serves as a very effective way of organising and developing the facility of the dancer. Most other techniques or styles are too limited to be the sole basis of training.
Training dancers should take daily ballet class as a foundation of training. Even non-ballet-focused students benefit, such as those who begin with hip-hop and find ballet later, for instance, feel definite improvement in their ability as well as becoming physically and mentally stronger. Ballet refines the body, creating a performer who is centered, balanced, lengthened and physically graceful.
However ballet contributes more to a dancer than just refined technique, such as attention to detail, mastery, form, precision, discipline, and awareness, providing vital life skills. Many things are learn including patience, a different language, how to breathe, all this and sharing joyful moments with other dancers.
As a result it is usually best to introduce ballet early on in a dancer’s training to establish these skills yet despite this, some students may find ballet “boring”, or that learning the basics of technique is “slow.” However, ballet is demanding and a practice that requires great physical and mental control. Ballet ultimately betters performance: today dancers are expected to be versatile, enhanced by exploring other dance forms.
Many teachers believe in the old tradition of ballet that seems to make the difference between dancer and professional, but it is not important whether or not you think you will become a ballet dancer but that you become educated about your art and respect all of its various practices and practitioners.