How to become A Ballerina

• Ballet Dancer
• Danseuse 
• Prima Ballerina

What do Ballerinas do?

A Ballerina would typically need to:

• Learn and practice the intricate art of ballet to express a theme or mood in a way that appeals to the audience
• Attend auditions, casting sessions, rehearsals, photoshoots, promotional events, and performances in a timely and prepared manner
• Practise and perform required dance sequences as per the choreographer’s directions
• Notify the choreographer of any personal limitations so steps, routines, and formations may be modified to suit the entire group
• Enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being through regular exercise, healthy nutrition, and adequate rest
• Develop and maintain strength, flexibility, and endurance for optimal performance;
• Maintain a healthy relationship with fellow ballet dancers, choreographers, instructors, and senior management of the company
• Be willing to work as long as it takes to perfect a routine and to socialise before and after a performance for its promotion
• Perform in front of a live audience or for TV, film, and music video undertakings; go on tour with the other performers
• Research the different aspects of ballet; take care of costumes; break-in pointe shoes, so they do not hinder practice or performance

Ballerinas almost always audition, rehearse and perform indoors, except in the case of special events held outdoors. Travel to domestic and international locations may depend on the ability of your employer to organise shows in different places.

Ballerinas are famous for burning the candle at both ends. Most performances occur in the evening, with training and rehearsals beginning early and taking up the better part of the day. Except when they have back-to-back performances, Ballerinas have a day or two during the week to catch up with other things in their life.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Ballerinas can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Ballerinas are generally employed by: 

• Ballet Companies
• Musical Theaters
• Performing Arts Companies
• Community Dance Organisations
• Schools, Colleges, & Universities
• Private Dance Schools
• Dance Development Bodies

Professional associations and organisations, such as Universal Dance Association (UDA), are crucial for ballerinas interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Anxiety and stress from having to perform in front of a critical audience and an exacting creative director who bases future casting on current performance
• The negative impact of dancing en pointe on the feet and toes; likely injuries to hips, knees, legs, and upper body
• Ability to overcome the constant pressure to achieve a perfect body in a healthy manner
• Expending the time, energy, and money required to improve muscular and cardio strength and to follow a wholesome diet plan
• High possibility of discomfort from exposure to blindingly bright stage lights and distracting sounds
• Exhaustion and strain due to extended periods of rehearsal, often to the point of collapse

Some bachelor's degree programmes offer a dance internship with a professional ballet company, allowing promising Ballerinas to work alongside experienced professionals. 

Internships can also help budding Ballerinas enhance their resumes and build a strong network of contacts that will prove useful in bagging fiercely contested positions in ballet companies and roles in performances.

Join a local dance company or school to get additional performance experience. It may help to check out local events and holiday programmes for further exposure.

You may get to hear countless stories from seasoned performers and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they manage to turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.

Ballerinas who want to pursue a career in ballet should begin their training at a local school when they are young (between 5 and 8 years of age) and proceed to a nationally recognised ballet academy by the time they are in their teens.

If you wish to teach ballet and are considering acquiring appropriate teaching credentials, remember that fieldwork is often the cornerstone of a teacher education program. You will spend some time in all classes and gather some experience with special needs children.

Read about the profession and interview or job shadow established Ballerinas to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers. 

Just as it is for any profession, a high school diploma or GED (General Education Development) would be a good beginning to a career as a Ballerina. Although some choose to pursue bachelor's degrees, formal education is not essential.

An accredited bachelor's degree in ballet/dance or certificate in ballet teaching, which can offer alternative employment to aspiring Ballerinas, may help pay the bills and advance one’s career. Accredited programs include dance history, dance techniques, and choreography.

Certification in professional dancing from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market. It encourages holistic development and the enhancement of stage skills and professionalism while giving you a heady taste of various dance forms and performance experiences.

Earning an accredited dance teacher certification is a smart option if you lack direct teaching experience or wish to gain an edge over your peers in line for lucrative employment. You can get one from public and private colleges, universities, and private dance membership organisations.

Many dance membership organisations offer introductory and advanced teacher training workshops that include the fundamentals along with the latest developments in science, technology, teaching methods, and artistic techniques.

Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. A combination of education, experience, and testing is generally required to gain certification, though requirements differ from region to region.

Ballerinas who wish to teach in schools need a licence. Typically, licensure requires an application, processing fees, an examination, an undergraduate degree or certification in education, and relevant experience.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Ballerinas whose careers last only as long as their bodies do not give out. 

The fondest hope and most visualised dream of a Ballerina would be to become the company's Prima Ballerina or Principal Dancer. This is not an opportunity that comes knocking on every door; you must be prepared to retire in your early thirties as a Ballerina who has accumulated a wealth of experience under her belt.

Even those who become Prima Ballerinas cannot hope to hold that position beyond a few years.

Now that most Ballerinas have access to programs that are tailored to fit their rigorous schedules, they acquire degrees that allow them to retire from active performance and become a ballet mistress or instructor, lead or manage a ballet company, work as a ballet notator, write about ballet, or take up choreography. 

You could open your own studio or start a franchise within a health and fitness club. If your interest lies in that direction, you could become a Dance Movement Psychotherapist and use your expertise in dance and movement as a therapeutic technique to help people overcome challenges and promote personal growth.

Candidates who are disciplined and dedicated, have trained from a young age and can bear the rigours of a ballet career have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active ballerina build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning.

Ballerinas continue to train throughout their careers, with even the most seasoned performers attending regular classes. Out-of-work Ballerinas must take open lessons to maintain and grow their talents.

You should be willing to accept guidance and constructive criticism while offering your rational perspective to the choreographer and instructor in an emotionally intelligent manner that promotes your personal and professional growth. 

Training in choreography, community theatre work, dance administration, dance teaching, notation, and fitness activities such as yoga and Pilates can help you earn more money and build a portfolio that could lead to an alternative career.

The Current Scenario

Most openings will arise out of the need to replace Ballerinas who wish to change careers or retire. Exceptional skills and talent are essential to enter and make your mark in this intensely competitive field.

Points About Pointe

Ballerinas wear heelless Pointe shoes made of layers of fabric and glue encompassed in satin. The sole is hard leather, but the shoes rarely last more than one performance. To secure the shoes, you must keep replacing satin ribbons and elastics around the ankle.

What Do Ballerinas Do To Maintain Those Near-To-Perfect Bodies?

Successful Ballerinas regularly spend no less than two hours warming and refining their technique and four to six hours in rehearsals. Performers usually follow this rigorous schedule during the production season. 

So, the wise ones stick to well-planned nutritious diets, including lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and nuts and small amounts of lean meat. In addition, they take up alternate forms of exercise to strengthen their muscles and improve their cardio strength.

It goes without saying that seasoned Ballerinas understand the internal and external pressures to attain and maintain that perfect body so they can manage such unrealistic expectations in a wholesome way.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Ballerinas have more flexible work schedules and locations. They could work full time and rehearse and perform gigs based on their schedule.

On the other hand, a full-time Ballerina could own her own ballet company or be a choreographer. They rehearse and perform extensively, and even more so during the production season.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time ballerina, consider the pros and cons to see what works best. 

A ballerina can hold three times her body weight on the tip of her big toe!

Whether it is a basic tendu or an intricate pas de Basque, whether it is a pirouette or a sissonne, every movement executed by an accomplished Ballerina elevates the audience to the highest realms of awe.

"Ballet is ultimately a logical technique; it favours the shortest, most efficient route from one position into another."

 - Anna Paskevska