Ballet is a woman

‚Ballet is woman‘ choreographer George Balanchine once famously said. And indeed, seemingly effortless and light, ballet takes a tremendous amount of will and strength to perform; a truly feminine combination. Originally taught to Italian noblemen and women at extravagant Renaissance parties – the name ‚ballet‘ comes from the Italian word for dancing: ballare – it crystalized into the romantic, yet highly technical dance we now know as ‚classical ballet‘ during the Romantic period of the late 19th century. At the time, the female ideal was fairy-like and ethereal, hence the cursed princesses and sylphs of ballets like Swan Lake and Giselle. Seen through today’s eyes, it’s easy to dismiss these characters as symbols of female suppression. But don’t be fooled by the pink tutus and soft, fluid movements! In a culture where women have traditionally been discouraged from taking up too much space, ballerinas have always done the opposite, filling the stage with their emotional and physical presence, wowing the audience with their virtuosity and sheer power. (Anyone who’s ever danced en pointe knows the near inhuman effort it takes to merely stay upright!). Yes, some of the traditional ballet narratives could definitely do with a feminist make-over, and we cannot wait for ballerinas like Misty Copeland and Michaela DePrince to start writing their own choreographies. But for now, we enjoy ballet for what it is and always has been: a showcase for fierce, feminine grace.