by Sarah Wilkiamson
The ballerina on the stage looks very glamorous. The danseur who carries her around appears strong, making it appear effortless to pick up his graceful partner. But there are a lot of practicalities that go into creating this scene of elegance you watch on the stage.There are years of training that are required in order to achieve that level of ballet dancing skill. It doesn't happen without a lot of effort, and a not too small financial outlay!Ballet Training FinancesBallet dancing isn't cheap. There's both tuition and incidental expenses that can total up in the hundreds of thousands of dollars if you, or your child, are passionate enough to want to take their ballet skill up to a professional level. The higher standard you need from your ballet school, the more expensive this will be.There are the formal tuition costs which vary depending on whether the dancer is enrolled in a formal ballet school where both dance and academic subjects are taught side by side, or whether there is private and group tuition to be paid on a weekly basis. The higher the skill level, the higher the costs. The same can be said about the incidental costs that are also incurred. These include appropriate clothing, transport, living expenses where appropriate and even school supplies.You can see how the costs mount up into the hundreds of thousands if you consider a child beginning a ballet class at age 5, and working her way up through the various levels and stages. Most parents are prepared for the first few years of one or two classes per week, but if your child wants to take this more seriously, then you need to consider the full outlay well in advance. There are scholarships available, but these are limited and competition to get these is high.And then there's the physical and emotional toll that ballet exacts from its dancers! The long hours for rehearsals during the day and performances at night in various venues make for a less-than-glamorous life away from family and friends, which also makes for a less-than-normal life. Such are the sacrifices ballerinas and danseurs must offer at the altar of ballet perfection.Personal CareBallet dancers ask a lot of their bodies and therefore personal care is a priority. They are aware of the importance of taking care of themselves, and especially their feet, so that their bodies can carry out the demands made on them.You have strict rules to follow for this purpose: You must avoid alcohol and drugs. You must have sufficient sleep and eat properly to sustain your strength during long performances. You must perform daily warm-up exercises before rehearsals. You must consult your doctor for even the most minor of injuries to your legs and feet.A positive attitude is a must to help with the mental stresses. Training has to be focused and not half-hearted because if you don't show you're dancing at your best, you'll find yourself replaced by someone who is. By the time they are professionals however, this is all second nature to ballet dancers who have no intention of letting someone else steal the place they've worked so hard to achieve.CompensationBallet dancing isn't about the money. From the moment a young child feels the approval of the audience, and hears the applause, they know that there is more to life than financial gain. They will put up with the long hours of training for little more than their next time in spotlight followed by a round of applause.If you are looking for riches as a ballet dancer, then you will most often be disappointed. Unless, you have endorsement deals, of course. This is because jobs for dancers and choreographers are highly competitive with only the most talented of the bunch finding regular work. The pay is nothing to write home and boast about either!Then again, when you are doing something you love and getting paid for it, who needs a boring 8-to-5 job?
