Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 2/23/2010

Question
Hello!
I love ballet, and am planning on continuing it as a career. But i always here that i have teh wrong body type for classical ballet.
I was hoping you could help me with what types of excersize/ training i could do, and what type of diet i should maintian. Please be specific!

Currently i dance:
3 hrs on monday
1.5 hrs on wednesday
and 1.5hrs on thursday.
i also try running on saturday for 30 minutes with other cardio.

Thank you very much!!

Answer
Hi Katya. I can't be specific with someone I do not teach personally, however the guidelines for diet are useful. No fast food/junk food or white flour carbs.

Sprouted grain breads are healthy and digest well - and have the B vitamins in them, and fiber.

More on this at:

http://balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-ballet-dancers-need-t...

I think that Pilates and swimming are the best types of cross training for dancers. Running puts too much impact on the joints and if you read "Body By Science" by Doug McGuff and John Little, you'll see that running has no real benefits for cardio health anyway.

Since you want to do ballet professionally, I would recommend just adding more ballet. Professional students are doing 8-10 classes a week in ballet, modern of some type, pointe, and pas de deux, and that is what you need.

I hope this helps Katya.

All the best, Dianne