From renaissance courts in the 1400's to the stages of the 21st century, ballet has held audiences spellbound and convinced dancers to dedicate years of their lives to rigorous training. There is something special about this art form that sets it apart and keeps us coming back for more. Here are just a few of the reasons why:

It's gorgeous

Sure, maybe your rendition of The Nutcracker as a third grader left something to be desired, but when a company dancer ties on those toe-shoes, it's sure to take your breath away.

It changes the way you move

Toes out, butt tucked, back straight, shoulders back, neck long, chin lifted. Ballet posture sticks with you. And after ballet, you can be sure that dancing in the kitchen will never be the same again. But beyond that, ballet trains you to move in an entirely different way. After years of dance, that switch never entirely turns off. Pointed toes and developés become part of the way a dancer moves through everyday life, and they wouldn't trade it for the world.

It has secret strength

Practicing ballet gives dancers long lean muscle tone. You might never know how strong a ballet dancer is, after all, they make everything they do look effortless. However, floating through the air in that grand jete takes serious strength and training.

It's awe inspiring

My instructor used to say that ballet is downright unnatural. The human body isn’t exactly designed to move about on pointe or to lift one’s legs above one’s head. Dancers must dedicate countless hours towards training their bodies to perform the extraordinary, and the result is often a stunning combination of strength, grace, and “Ouch! Doesn’t that hurt?!”

It communicates without words

So many different cultures have a tradition of ballet, and for each of those cultures, ballet is able to communicate through the universal language of movement. While traditional cross-cultural communication carries the burden of translation or requires that you become multilingual, watching another culture's ballet allows you to experience their ideas, perspectives, and stories in their original, raw, and unfiltered form.

Appreciating ballet means feeling cultured

Have you ever wanted a night out on the town to feel fancy and hob-nob with the elite? If you have an appreciation for ballet, then you have the perfect opportunity! Grab your tux or slip into that little black dress and make your way to the ballet. After the performance, converse with the snooty at the reception and trick them into thinking you are one of them whilst secretly stuffing complimentary mints into your pockets.

It feels good

No, hours of stretching and barre work and floor exercises do not leave a dancer exactly refreshed. On the contrary, it leaves you with shaking muscles and throbbing feet. However, after all that work, there is nothing like the feeling of mastering a performance. Ballet means embodying art. That experience of capturing grace and strength while telling a story with every lift of your chin and extension of your foot is something irreplacable.