Expert: Jennifer - 5/29/2004

Question
For the first half hour of my ballet class, I'm very energetic and can dance very well, but for the rest of the 90 minute ballet class, I get tired. This affects my dancing greatly and I can't dance as well. What can I do to keep my energy level up throughout the whole class?  

Answer
Hello, Alena!

Of course, we all occasionally have days where we run out of energy just due to our mood or biorhythms... but if this happens frequently, it probably has to do with your diet.

What do you eat before ballet class? First off, be sure to eat, period. To get the most out of each class, you have to have energy on store to work with! Personally, it wasn't until i started taking dance seriously that I ever ate breakfast... i would skip breakfast before my class in the morning, and by about 30 minutes into class (just like you!) i would begin to feel very tired and at times dizzy - especially when doing combres forward and back!

Eating something sugary, like a kid's cereal, wont help much. Our bodies burn off sugar very quickly and thus run out of energy, and you're likely to crash and get tired during your class. Just as you should do all the time, make sure your meals are healthy and balanced, supplying your body with protein and non-sugar carbs (such as healthy cereals, pasta, vegetables, some fruits, etc). This diet should provide your body with enough energy to get you through class.

Another thing to ask yourself... are you getting enough water during class? I take a bottle of water to class with me and drink small amounts all the way through class. It replaces the water I lose through sweat and allows me to be ready to sweat some more! If you do not already drink water during class, try this and see if it keeps you from getting so tired during class.

Finally, if you're interested in learning more about healthy diets for dancers, go to the library and look at a book called "Diet for Dancers" by Robin D Chmelar and Sally S Fit. Though a good portion of it is about how to lose weight and still have energy to dance, the part that I think you might be interested in is about the nutrients you need to dance, and the basics on nutrition and your body.

Good luck!