Expert: Jennifer - 9/18/2004

Question
hello!
i've always loved ballet, and i'm wondering how dancers get such a long neck, even at very young ages.. is it because of certain movements or something?
thank you
Carmen,
Argentina

Answer
I'm sorry it took so long to get back to you -- I answered this question once, and apparently the email never made it through to you.

In summary -- the posture that ballet trains the student to use can help make their neck appear longer. it trains the body to hold the neck upright and the shoulders back and down. However, it will not truely change the length or the neck, because that is determined genetically.

The major reason dancers seem to always have such long necks is because they're graced with it genetically. Since visual aesthetics are so important in ballet, dancers are in part chosen based on how they look. That applies to students too, at least at the academies that are more selective (such as the Kirov or School of American Ballet). Children are frequently selected for their "ballet body."

What you are seeing in young dancers is probably A) their unusually good posture due to training and B) their genetic propensity for a ballet body.

I hope this answers your question --- let me know if I can clarify anything for you. Thanks for your email!