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The Cost Of Applause: 77 Pics To Celebrate Ballet Day
There's a good reason why Titanic's Rose couldn't stay on her toes longer than she did. It's damn hard! Those pink silk shoes hide black nails, swollen wounds, and deformed toes. It takes much more than 8 wiki steps to become a swan.
Today is Ballet Day, so Bored Panda compiled a list featuring ballet dancers to admire their strength and grace.
While there is no record of the inaugural Ballet Day celebration, there are two explanations why it's celebrated on February 7. Ballet was introduced to the United States on February 7, 1827 at the Bowery Theatre. Also, February 7, 1668 was the day when the Dutch Prince William III danced in the premiere of the “Ballet of Peace.”
Are you a ballet dancer yourself? Share your experience in the comments, or upload your pics to the list!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
LynnLuptak 9 years ago
I'd bet their feet are in constant pain and finding shoes to accomodate the deformaties especially when they are seniors must be horrendous!!
Jamie Hume 3 years ago
Where are the names of the dancers and the photographers? It's not right not to credit it these photographers and give the names of the subjects.
MariaJoãoBarata 9 years ago
Ouch, I struggle to touch my elbows on the floor, and now this? Wow!
RELATED:
#2
LindaCottleHodge 9 years ago
My Granddaughter, in picture, took 14 years of ballet and has the toes and bunions to prove it. Those shoes are cement in the toes and the covering on their toes is a thin gel layer. They are true athletes and graceful ones!
AngelaGriffiths 9 years ago
It's not cement in the toes, it's just layer upon layer of stiffened canvas. Most dancers will break in their pointes by softening that area anyway. Each dancer chooses their own toe protection product so not always a gel pad. I danced professionally for 16yrs after 11yrs of training, and my feet are a true reflection of those years.
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GraceBarclay 9 years ago
Not only women. Read the book Mao's Last Dancer. The dancer is a man and he had no choice in the matter at all.
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DonnaMurphy 9 years ago
I did 15 myself and have just had my bunions operated on and I can say I would have rather have kept the bunions. The pain I am going through now is much worse than how they were before
KatrinaGreen 9 years ago
and my gym teacher told us that ballet had no health problem associated with it.....
#3
#4
Don Guild 9 years ago
It is a beautiful pose but I don't think it is worth destroying your feet in order to do this and many other such poses that require standing or dancing on the tip of your toes.
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Hamlets twin 9 years ago
...But I cant stop thinking of her just scuttling off screen like a crab :D
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DanielleBrown 9 years ago
Look at the muscle control in those LEGS!!!! Going to the gym in the morning
GretchenSpankie 9 years ago
Ahh when my legs looked like this!!! When your veins and muscles are coursing with strength!
ErikaRossini 9 years ago
Amazing pic!!! Depict the years of effort!!!they're real athletes! Wonderful
#5
#6
AdrianTaylor 9 years ago
This picture is epic! my favorite of the lot. I wonder how many takes went into getting it just right
#7
LisaMariaPoeRodrigues 9 years ago
Nothing worth doing is glamerous - hard work is key to sucsess :D
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SamanthaMiller 9 years ago
Ballet is a special Beauty all on its own. So graceful and such beautiful masterworks. It's one of my favorite arts. I never really stopped to think how much of a toll it takes on the dancers. Much respect to them.
MeerMerel 9 years ago
Ballet...classic or contemporary...it's the art of expressing beyond words...beautiful powerful and intriging...sweet&bitter memories...dancing is such a great part of my life...of me! These photo serie touched me right in the soul...it captures almost every emotion a true dancer can feel
VictoriaMost 9 years ago
After dancing for 19 years my toenails still don't grow normal. . Totally worth it
mcami 9 years ago
I think these photos look exaggerated. Not because ballet dancer's toes aren't like this, or sometimes even worse, but because they emphasise their ugliness. When I see my fellow dancer's feet, I rarely feel like it's an ugly view. I see their strenght and the marks of their arches. And most of those tapes aren't even to cover bruises, but to protect feet from getting many (at least that's what we do).
Kim Cintron 9 years ago
They truly pay the price for their art.. And make it look effortless..:
GretchenSpankie 9 years ago
Why judge the lengths someone goes to for love, beauty, peace and strength, we all have our own path. It was all worth it and at 45 to still be able to feel some of what I felt then in ballet classes- totally worth it!
GretchenSpankie 9 years ago
When my toes looked like this and my body to match, I felt like I was on top of the world. Strength inside and out!
GretchenSpankie 9 years ago
I remember when my feet looked like that and what my body looked like then, I felt I was on top of the world. It may look bad but as a dancer it is all part of the job and the art we love. Strength in and out!!!
#8
#9
DanielleBrown 9 years ago
I remember these days. I danced for 13 years....I loved it, but my feet have paid the price.
#10
AmandaWaterston 9 years ago
Every little girl wishes she were a beautiful ballerina.....if only they knew how EXTREMLY mentally & physically strong you need to be! Amazing! Strong! Beautiful!
#11
LeopoldoAlveláisMújica 9 years ago
Hermoso gran plasticidad, como una escultura, impresionante
#12
LindaWendling 9 years ago
I once wore holes straight through the box of mine....... concrete is not a good dancing surface, but it the only way to pirouette in the rain !!!!!
lakithatolbert 9 years ago
How many pairs of shoes do the dancers go through in a month? In a year?
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#14
Caisia Knapek 7 years ago (edited)
Looks like she is either doing yoga, or just stretching before something other than dancing en pointe
#15
TwylaRisby 9 years ago
hey Debbie, is your last name Downer? Because you're kind of being one.
Holly Marchant 5 years ago
Debby, here's a news flash for ya about your opinion, IT SUCKS.
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KevinHough 9 years ago
I have virtually no understanding of the Ballet. However, I have an understanding of athleticism. These ladies are incredible and dedicated athletes.
ErinLynchWeber 9 years ago
People have bones. If you're fit, and you bend, and you stretch your skin, you SHOULD see bones. Totally healthy. Don't buy into the hype so much.
BrookeVenning 9 years ago
Agreed. And you can often tell the difference between extremely fit and unhealthy thin because the unhealthy thin ones also tend to have arms and legs that are skin and bones, and you can count most of their ribs and vertebrae... Starving yourself burns muscle after the fat is gone. This dancer still has healthy tone, you just barely see her ribs in that position, etc. She's very lithe but she looks healthy.
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SolaraJean 9 years ago
It's true that ballerinas are thin but you can see vertebrae on most people. It's normal. If seeing pics of thin women offends then don't look at galleries of ballet photos!!!
FernPorras 9 years ago
Ballet should be made an Olympic sport. Dancers have bodies that are as conditioned as any gymnast. Ballet could replace Curling.
VickieCorner 9 years ago
I'd love to see what your figure would be like Debbie if you did 45 hours of dancing a week... (And no, that number isn't a lie) 5 days of 6 hours rehearsals. +5 evening Shows of 3 hours and for some, another 6 hours on a Saturday for matinee and evening show.
RichardPetch 9 years ago
I am an over weight 71 yr old disabled male but can still do that but not for long or I would lock in that position.
AdrianTaylor 9 years ago
Just wait till you're 69!.....I'll see myself out.
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RichardDiser 9 years ago
Debbie, you are one of the worst cases of jealousy-driven bitterness I have ever seen. The only worse one is my sister-in-law, who hopefully will fall off a cliff headfirst sometime (and is also named Debbie). Try calming the hell down and dealing with the fact that Mommy couldn't pay for your ballet classes. She was probably too busy paying for your food.
Holly Marchant 5 years ago
Debbie, why are you such a conceited horrible mudblood of a human? Everyone is getting mad at you and the only reason for that is because your causing this madness. These people work so hard every day, and you are doing nothing. Your comments are from 4 years ago, and your still doing nothing. I'm sorry if your life has been horrible, but take a look around, because there is more to people than meets the eye. Being a dancer is one of the most stressful jobs in the world, and what do you do? You post the worst and horrible comments. You should just ask yourself, why am I doing this? Because you need an answer.
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Final score:
63points
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#19
TheHandwitch 9 years ago
If this was a drawing, I would say the figure is not realistic. Mesmerizing photo and posture.
YaradeRouw 9 years ago
No it isn't. They create this effect by using flour
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#21
Final score:
45points
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KimKelly 9 years ago
Not enough pictures and recognition of male ballerinas :) They're also wonderfully graceful athletes.
ErikaRossini 9 years ago
My hero!!! The most beautiful and graceful who can exist! I cried when I saw him dancing..great Roberto Bolle
#26
#27
TrillianEsposito 9 years ago
It is a beautiful but I can't help but think of the pain involved with their love. So stunning. :)
#28
Final score:
31points
#30
NatalieHicks 9 years ago
It is if you have a condition called Ehlers Danlos syndrome.
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MeganEmberson 9 years ago
To a ballerina the pain is nothing compared to the passion for the beautiful art of dance. As a former ballerina these pictures bring me to tears, seeing the beauty in every pose. It is not an art for everyone and unfortunatley it does go under appreciated by people like yourself
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#35
#36
AmandaBlanton 9 years ago
Does Debbie leave any comments that aren't negative?? If you don't like the art and beauty that is ballet, then why are you still viewing this post?? Mom always said, if you can't say something nice......
#37
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#41
Final score:
18points
#42
Final score:
18points
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#47
Final score:
13points
#48
Final score:
13points
#49
#51
Final score:
12points
NinaGilman-Hawkes 9 years ago
She seems a little young for pointe. I did ballet for many years and my legs weren't deemed strong enough for this until I was about 12, which was the usual age in my ballet school.
amandajhudson95 9 years ago
Yeah, I heard a doctor say that u shouldn't start till 12 so that u can give time for the bones in your for your foot to fully grow or something very close to that
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Christine M Quigley 5 years ago
This may have been taken in Russia, they seem to push pointe a little younger.
#53
Final score:
11points
#54
Final score:
11points
#58
Final score:
8points
#61
Final score:
7points
#65
Final score:
5points
i love...................food 4 years ago
i love ballet too i really want to become a painter and a ballet dancer
MaryTonningsen 9 years ago
This is a wonderful photo, Napoleon Ching! You caught it at the perfect moment!
#69
Final score:
3points
Add New Image
What do you think ?
JakeFerguson 9 years ago
Respect to all the dancers out their who push their bodies to the limit and perform with such grace and strength. Amazing what they can do.
RichardDiser 9 years ago
That Debbie girl should probably quit commenting. Somehow she manages to cover every article she voices her opinion on in a thick layer of s**t. (Also, if you're reading this, Debbie darling, NO ONE is entitled to their opinion. Complete fallacy.)
PeterNewton 9 years ago
I only see one comment from "Debbie" and it is far from "s**t". Nor do I see any reason for your negative view of her. What is sauce etc... "NO ONE is entitled to their opinion. Complete fallacy." Applies to you too, Richard Diser.
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KristinaSmead 9 years ago
Even tho dancers beat their bodies up something fierce to us its worth it u dont even realize it at the time cuz u love what u do so much u would do it all over again if u had the chance i know i would to move and tell emotions or stories thru dance is our art just like any other artist out there
AngelaMonk 9 years ago
Great to see ballet recognised for the powerful art form that is. Great too to see dancers these days being admired for their strength.
BellTaby 9 years ago
These are really powerful photos which can give me a large strength to face to life. Thx a lot. Cheap-Huma...Wigs-1.jpg 
MaureenSullivan 9 years ago
Beautiful photos of strong graceful athletes. Some male ballet dancers in the original photos would also have been nice.
JakeFerguson 9 years ago
Respect to all the dancers out their who push their bodies to the limit and perform with such grace and strength. Amazing what they can do.
RichardDiser 9 years ago
That Debbie girl should probably quit commenting. Somehow she manages to cover every article she voices her opinion on in a thick layer of s**t. (Also, if you're reading this, Debbie darling, NO ONE is entitled to their opinion. Complete fallacy.)
PeterNewton 9 years ago
I only see one comment from "Debbie" and it is far from "s**t". Nor do I see any reason for your negative view of her. What is sauce etc... "NO ONE is entitled to their opinion. Complete fallacy." Applies to you too, Richard Diser.
Load More Replies... KristinaSmead 9 years ago
Even tho dancers beat their bodies up something fierce to us its worth it u dont even realize it at the time cuz u love what u do so much u would do it all over again if u had the chance i know i would to move and tell emotions or stories thru dance is our art just like any other artist out there
AngelaMonk 9 years ago
Great to see ballet recognised for the powerful art form that is. Great too to see dancers these days being admired for their strength.
BellTaby 9 years ago
These are really powerful photos which can give me a large strength to face to life. Thx a lot. Cheap-Huma...Wigs-1.jpg
MaureenSullivan 9 years ago
Beautiful photos of strong graceful athletes. Some male ballet dancers in the original photos would also have been nice.
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