One of the points where ballet has taken a lot of criticism is on being too conservative. From some points of view, the critique is absolutely called for – ballet can renew itself on several fields to become more modern, up-to-date, relevant and interesting (for example how I commented on ballet companies complete lack of social media skills not long ago). However interesting a discussion, this post is not going to be about whether (or how) ballet should renew itself or not. I mention it because the old-school way of thinking might make ballet dull and outdated on some fields, but it does bring some good things with it, too;
I just had to put this in here - it is my sister and I dancing at about 5 and 8 years old
Shaping a person
When I started ballet as a little kid, we had to line up outside the studio door before each class in first position and be quiet as mice. We were dressed according to the dress-code, and behaved according to other codes. When the ballet-mistress took us into the studio, the first thing we did was a collective greeting, to the mistress and each other. The last thing we did before leaving the studio was to bow, thanking the mistress for her class, she thanking us for our work and concentration.
This might all sound a little authoritative for a group of six-year-olds, but it did teach me some major, important lessons on behavior and etiquette, not necessarily taught to kids as much today as it was earlier. The teacher talked to us as ‘ladies’ and ‘gentlemen’ (well, gentle-man actually, I was the only boy at the studio for a looong period), and apart from the balletic terminology, we learned that the gents wait patiently while the ladies go first, we learned to hold the door for the girls, to say thank you and please – we learned to behave, basically, and thats got to be a good thing, right?
That said, I don’t think my group of six-year-old ‘colleagues’ were much different from the other kids that didn’t go to Ms. Hebbert’s ballet studio three times a week for lessons in movement and manners. When leaving the studio, we were probably as loud, rebellious and naughty as any group of kids. But these lessons shapes a person, and today, I consider myself a quite decently polite guy. I think I even would have passed the grandmother-test on politeness, and it is all thanks to ballet lessons. I believe these standards are a good remain of an old and conservative legacy, a tradition we ought to keep and take care of. It gives ballet students something to use in life outside the studio as much as inside, and quite frankly, it’s a good characteristic!
Where not to keep old ideas and perceptions of ballet is still something we ought to discuss, though, do it here in the comments if you please. I might do a follow-up post on that here on Tights and Tiaras, too!
Until next time,
Ta-Ta
H
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Henrik,
It’s true that ballet is one of the last bastions of courtliness… in a good way. I love the fact that classes end with a reverence, linking us all the way back to those etiquette-filled days of Louis XIV. They went overboard on the etiquette, but maybe nowadays we go overboard in the other direction. Isn’t it better to stand straight and move gracefully than to slouch and lope or lumber along? It’s not a bad thing to show respect for oneself and others in this way.
Hi Katherine!
You express it very nicely – to show respect for oneself and others – that’s the most important lesson learned in a ballet-studio!!
I agree, we do need a little fresh-up on those good old etiquette-rules of Louis and company. Yes, they did go over the top with it, but I don’t think that is anything we need to worry about anytime soon – we’re a long way from that
Thank you for your comment!
This post makes me want to pour my heart out. Forgive me.
I always hated karate school commercials that talked about how taking karate would teach children to have discipline, respect, good values, etc. Hated them. This was because I have anger issues because my father never cared to get out of his lazyboy recliner that was parked in front of the television so that he could figure out a way to get me involved in something social and worth while. He seemed to feel that being a good father only meant keeping me alive, feed and in a warm house until I was old enough to join the military.
Anything that I ever experienced outside of my tiny existance at my house was because schools took us students on field trips to experience new things. And while I took efforts in my adult life to be the complete opposite of him, his style of ‘do nothing different / be a complete loner’ really hurt my ability to be a normal socialized human being. My mother was too passive and miserable to help me and my sister out in this regard. Nothing in the world can get me those childhood days back to do over again.
So, I get a bit overwhelmed when I visit the Facebook of a ballet school student and they have like 480 friends. And when I see ballet school tumblrs of a bunch of kids traveling to various cities and they are all happy and smiling and socialized and successful as teens, it makes me furious at my parents. (And usually at this point, people say something like, “No one is happy with their parents. Parents do the best that they can with what they have.” To that, I say, “Lies.”)
From what I have seen in the ballet schools, ballet children are the best human beings that I have even met.
Hi Dave, and thank you for sharing that!
I’m sorry to hear about your lack of social experiences in your childhood, and yes, ballet can be a good socializer for kids, indeed. But I think, basically, any form of activation of a kids brain and body, together with others, does good in this regard. I don’t think it matters if it’s soccer, ballet or stitching-clubs, as long as the kid likes it, and gets challenged emotionally, physically and socially.
You are right about ballet schools often being very inclusive, and with all the kids hanging out together. But you must not forget, ballet is a competitive environment as well, not all the kids who participated in a ballet-school has sunshine-stories to tell. But, for some, it is indeed like you describe, and they are lucky!
Thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts, and for your always continuing support of Tights and Tiaras! It is much appreciated!
Henrik
Hey there Henrik!
I think this conservative tendency ballet has is in much the reason why it has lasted for centuries. Because it has such a perfect structure, such a perfect design that it doesn´t need to change very much along the years, except of course for style modifications or when the masters discover better ways to do some things. And, of course, the people of outside don’t understand this, because they clearly don’t know ballet as deep as us. I liked your post, thank you for sharing your experiences with us
See ya
Hi Hilde!
H
I believe you are right the conservatism is part of the reason why ballet has “kept it’s shape” as long as it has. That said, there are several places where ballet truly can need a little revolution – availability, for one. BUT – I truly appreciate the ethics and values I got through ballet training, and believe it is something we should keep with us when we look at where ballet can be renewed.
Thank you for your comment, see you around the blog
Nice idea for a post, Henrik.
As to “old school” – I do observe that things have changed in many ballet schools.
Many of the children (I now teach) have much shorter attention spans, a general lack of discipline and a sadly sometimes quite pronounced dis-respect for others compared to when I was first involved in student teaching (before my performing career).
Granted, that was a long time ago…
The ballet schools (the recreational ones, at least!) have largely also changed to accomodate this (and other changes in child-rearing practices).
For example, it appears to nowadays be much more common for caregivers of children to praise them broadly, no-matter-what. (“wow, fantastic! You were great!”)
“Old School” would not have done that. The teachers/parents would have mentioned that it looked as if the student was “on the right path”, and of course reminded them that still had a lot of improvement to do. (or, in the case of my own training in the years before my first job – no praise at all, just admonishments)
I do think that praise – well-placed and qualified as to WHAT exactly was “good” or “great” – is helpful.
But it is like sugar – too much is not good for you and it loses its ability to help in any way.
I have also found that a good grasp of basic ettiquette and “manners”, as well as impeccable posture, can open up some “doors”, even outside of the theater and ballet-studio.
I completely agree with you, Diane, about praise being like sugar! Nothing will make you sour, but too much doesn’t do you any good at all! A good teacher knows when to praise, and when to focus on the way ahead. Sadly, there are not too many of truly good teachers, and there are many dance-studios focusing more on making money (read: as many students as possible, with as little uncomfortable situations as possible) rather than educating good, qualified and “wise” dancers.
What you say about a grasp of etiquette in the “outside” world – could not be more true. People tend to like folks that stand up straight, holds the door for the ladies and knows how to greet you in the morning
Thank you for sharing your opinions!
H
I think there is a lot to be said for tradition and for the “old school” way of doing things. The “rules” help make things comfortable. I know how to act in a ballet class regardless of whether it is in my home town or in another country. That’s cool.
Nice post, as usual H!
yes, thats true, the etiquette of a ballet studio is more or less equal all over, another thing that helps ballet stay “international”, and, ironically, fresh – since all know how to relate and react to each others.
I do believe in keeping the “main” rules of ballet very much as they has always been, traditions does not evolve without a reason. BUT there are also fields where we can renew the old ballet-lady quite a bit, don’t you think?
Glad you liked the post
H
Absolutely! The “old ballet-lady” as you so aptly call it, is definitely in need of an overhaul!
I’m all for that!
Hi Henrik:
As someone that has recently started ballet training, I appreciate the “old school” way of doing things. I like having the reverence at the end of class, and they way people are expected to behave. I’m stuck in the middle of two classes – one is an adult class and the other I take with the kids. There is a completely different attitude in each class. There seems to be more respect in the adult class than the children’s class. I only wish the children learned to be polite in class.
Henrik,
It is very true how the discipline in ballet studios has lessened but, many of the ballet dancers I know have the best manners and etiquette out of my generation as a whole. Out of all other sports that my generation will participate in, ballet has the most etiquette and structure. For example, a football player will get disappointed with the play and trash the bench and yell at a couch/referee. However a ballet dance would never even dream of yelling at a director unless he/she wants to lose his/her job. In many cultures, discipline and manners is the most import trait so if someone were to travel the world they would need to be very polite and have the highest respect for their teachers. I can also say that when I was growing up and going to ballet schools, it helped me a lot to know how to respect my elders and teachers. I have been to so many studios that I know how far I will go if I keep up the discipline wether it be from a teacher or myself. Being a teenager, I still have a lot to learn about the dance world but it has helped me immensely in forms of discipline and respect. I think ballet is the most profound form of art out there and it cannot be categorized with many of the sports that compete today. I don’t think that anyone should lose all respect for ballet dancers when they see other forms of dance that are not as strict or formal as they used to be. There is a lot to show for when it comes to how far dance has come but ballet has its own place in the dance world.
Julia, you are absolutely right, the discipline in ballet is far higher still than most other sports genres, and also inside the dance world as such. Which I believe is a good thing. As you say, discipline is a good thing to know in many situations, and allows you to understand and cooperate in many different places and cultures. Not to mention, it gives you a head start in any “serious” environment, like, say a job interview.
Show me a serious performer in any genre that doesn’t respect the level of seriousness and discipline that is required for ballet…
Ballet definitely has its own place in the dance world – I would say it has the biggest place of them all
Thank you for sharing your opinions, I do very much agree with them.
H
Great discussion- thank you Henrick. Everyone I know teaching with integrity in this field strives to keep what they feel is relevant about the past and the rich traditions of ballet and discard that which no longer serves students. Interestingly, there is very little that no longer serves a culture that has lost much of it’s structure for young people. But teachers are toying with more contemporary music, broader dress codes, more relaxed class environment, etc that may discourage a broader audience in ballet class. It would be unfortunate to discard all of our traditions just for the sake of becoming ‘more contemporary’ although becoming more accesible seems to me a good thing.
Thanks for your comment, Carol, I do agree with what you are saying. “lightening up” on dress codes, class environment and such might work for some students, but lets face it – in order to become a dancer, you need a certain atmosphere and attitude towards your work, and that is, in my opinion, best achieved by keeping the traditional “rules” of the ballet studio. To become more accessible is definitely something ballet needs to work on, but I don’t think changing ballet completely in order to meet “contemporary” standards is the way to go.
Hello Henrik.
I absolutely agree in everything that you have been saying. I am a 13 year old girl and fortunately, the ballet studio that i attend is entirely conservative. My artistic director sticks to the old legacy of ballet that made the art form so prestigious in the first place. Through all of this I have learned discipline,manners, and have turned into a respectful young lady. I appreciate your post Henrik for it has reminded me of how truly blessed I am to belong to such a great studio. Thanks.