The Ballet Site

This list was compiled by a teacher and given to a student in preparation for a performance of the Nutcracker

1. Eat Healthily
2. Get enough Sleep and Rest
3. Warm Up before EVERY Rehearsal
4. Treat Injuries Sensibly
5. Take Ballet Class Every Day... If None Are Offered, Give Yourself One!

1. Practice the individual movements that need technical improvement until they are consistently stronger
2. Analyse the meaning, motivation and musicality of each step or group of steps
3. Practice the arms in front of a mirror until the line and style of them suits the individual role you are performing
4. Ask questions of yourself about patterns, musicality, specific port de bras and if you are not sure of the answers, ask the choreographer
5. Research your role by having other dancers perform it, reading about its history and by listening to the music until it is a part of your body

1. Look at pictures and watch videos of classical ballet and study the dancer's style
2. Choose a dancer whose style makes you love the way he or she moves and try to put some of that line or style into your dancing
3. Be a Classical Ballet Dancer
4. Don't keep taking off the mantel of being a dancer and putting it back on when it is convenient...be a dancer 24 hours a day because if you believe you are a dancer, you will be a dancer.

1. Communication during a rehearsal should be reserved for questions before you begin and questions when you end...never during the actual dancing.
2. Don't sigh, roll your eyes and make comments about the length of time something takes to get started or how much after the schedule the rehearsal ends.
3. Remember that performing requires patience and practice.
4. Remember that the joy is in the process, the reward is in the performance
5. Don't wait for the magic to just happen.... work and the magic will be there every performance
6. Remember that it is a group effort, it requires everyone to work at a professional effort... there are no free rides!
7. The more often you conduct yourself as a professional dancer, the more likely it is that the choreographer and fellow dancers will treat you like one.
8. There is never an excuse for rudeness
9. Leave your ego at the door!

1. Keep track of corrections and bring an awareness of them into rehearsal
2. Treat your costume with respect
3. Have your pointe shoes and ballet slippers ready and on your feet before rehearsal is to begin
4. Make sure that your shoes are in good condition and will not contribute to any injury or poor performance
5. Dress appropriately for rehearsal....hair up, no jewellery, neat ballet clothes worn so the choreographer can see your body
6. Be quiet in rehearsal, especially when you are not dancing and attend to your own special details....warming up, practicing a movement, creating a character, sewing costumes or observing other dancers and learning from their successes and failures.
7. Don't voice complaints or unsolicited opinions.
8. Trust the choreographers judgment in casting, altering choreography and corrections.
9. Focus on the present....Use every minute of rehearsal to improve your own performance
10. If it is necessary to solve technical problems with a fellow dancer, take it to the side or into another studio so that the complete run through rehearsals are not disturbed.
11. Remember that technique is important only because it is a tool to be used to free the body for a greater range of expression. Dancing from the heart and speaking to the audience through movement is your first priority.  You have to learn to trust that what you practice every day will support the choreographer's visual intent as well as their artistic voice