Ballerina - A Ballerina Dress Up

There have been so many changes in the ballet dancewear history. Like in 1820, Carlo Blasis recommended that girls should wear white muslin dresses with black sashes at the waist. But in 1832, the long loose trousers have been replaced with knee breeches and silk hose.

If I am not mistaken, Marie Taglione was the first ballerina who wore bell shaped dress with a fitted bodice in the mid 1800s. But this bell-shaped dress gave way to the tutu in the 19th century. By that time, the tutu extended only to allow ballerinas much more mobility and to display their techniques.

In the early part of the 20th century, the ballet dancewear began to change. It was Isadora Duncan who danced on stage with no shoes and stockings. By then, she was considered to be an extremist and her flimsy Greek tunics became the acceptable style to wear in the rehearsal and even in front of the audience.

And at the present time, ballerinas are wearing the new leotard, which was invented by the trapeze artist Jules Leotard, as their ballet dancewear in rehearsal.

Perhaps others are wondering, do ballerinas have bones? It seems that they have loose joints. Of course they have. Their body is flexible. Flexible to do the steps or moves that a ballerina should do. And the most basic ballet move is entrechat, it means to weave or to braid. In ballet, it means to jump.

When we talk of the ideal ballerina body, here's what I think are the things to mind of. Has a thin, lean or skinny body, has shoulders with a slope, long neck, straight hips, thin legs, strong ankles and high arches and insteps. Able to do the 180 degree turn-out and at least a 90 degree arabesque. And most importantly, should have strong and healthy bones.

A ballerina body still depends on what type of a ballet dance.

For a classical ballet, it preferred those who have compact and muscular body; a small waist as well as the upper body.

For Balanchine ballet, preferred one with narrow hips, little or no fat deposits, long, lean legs, a short, slim torso, small breasts, and delicate looking arms. Or those who are very thin, to the point who have almost no figure.