Ballet dancers are often celebrated for their gentle grace and discipline, an elegance that can be traced back to the 15th century Renaissance courts of Italy and France where ballet originated. Stepping into a studio 500 years later, there remains this air of regality and composure in the way dancers carry themselves throughout the class. This legacy of classical etiquette has been passed down through many unspoken rules, generation to generation, studio to studio, dancer to dancer.
Rest assured that the discipline forged in a modern day ballet class isn’t about mindlessly following old and ancient rules and traditions. Ballet class etiquette has shifted with the times from an elitist and hierarchal mindset, to one of awareness and respect. It serves to cultivate a tone and flow of class, where you can get the most out of the time and space shared between you, your peers and your instructor.
When you arrive at your class properly prepared with a mindset to learn, your instructors can focus on doing what they do best: teaching dance! Instead of spending time getting the class to stop talking, leaning against the barre, etc… they can funnel all their energy into making you the absolute best dancer you can be.
Ultimately, the discipline and attentiveness you learn during your practice will carry over into how you present yourself outside the studio. You can become the type of person that others can count on to be prepared, consistent, and thoughtful – all qualities that are just as important (if not more so!) than your technique.
There are some etiquette tips we learn early on: Arrive on time, wear the proper dress code, no talking during class, no food and drinks in the studio (except water)… let’s explore a few more rules that you might not have heard of yet!
1. Always turn toward the barre when changing sides during ballet class
The reason? In class, the barre is our partner. When we are dancing, we lightly hold onto the barre as if we were holding our partner’s hand. When it’s time to change sides, we politely turn toward our partner.
Note: This does not apply when the combination dictates you turn away from the barre, such as with a détourné or soutenu!
2. Never mark your arms
Dancers tend to be overly focused on their legs and feet, often to the detriment of the upper body. While the lower body is incredibly important, the upper body is what tells the audience a story. Without an expressive port de bras, your dancing is likely to fall flat. Plus, performing with your arms full out helps build the brain-body connection to better learn combinations and choreography!
Get in the habit of always doing your arms full out and you will notice a rapid improvement in your coordination, expression, and overall technique.
3. Sitting down and stretching
Avoid sitting down in between exercises (unless you are actively stretching) as your muscles will disengage. Your muscles will think the activity is over and ‘switch off’, running a higher risk of getting injured when you get up to move again. If and when you do stretch make sure you are not in anyone’s way and it is not disruptive to the class.
4. Apply every correction, even if it’s not specifically given to you
Many dancers tune out when the instructor is giving an individual correction to another student… and this can be such a shame! Every note is an opportunity to improve as a dancer. Even if a correction wasn’t given specifically to you, it does not mean it doesn’t apply. Ballet class is the perfect setting to lean into your Singaporean kiasu-ness to be a constant learner. I can guarantee lightbulb moments will come from soaking up valuable information and taking the time to listen to notes given to your peers.
5. Spatial awareness
When sharing space with others we always need to be mindful – we do not want a grand battement to our head or an eye taken out from an enthusiastic pirouette. It is important to set ourselves up at the barre and before each centre exercise so that every dancer has room for their fullest expression.
The easiest way to do this is to spread out and use the whole studio space. In centre practice: try reaching your arms out to the side and turning yourself around to ensure at least an arms-length distance from your neighbours. When dancing from the corner: keep to your own diagonal, avoid overtaking or getting in the way of your fellow dancers, and always run out of the corner to exit rather than back into ‘traffic’.
Trust me, spatial awareness is an incredibly useful skill to hone – particularly when navigating the crowds at a busy MRT!
In the end, classroom etiquette boils down to this: being fully present and aware in the moment. The time shared in a ballet studio should be one of reciprocal exchange and mutual respect. The etiquette rules instilled by the instructors are rarely arbitrary – they serve the greater purpose of creating an environment where every single dancer has the opportunity to grow into the best version of themselves. By being respectful of ourselves, our peers, and our instructors we can spend our time in the studio fully immersed in the art form of ballet.
See you in our BalletBody studios!
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