What do all of these actors have in common: Audrey Hepburn, Natalie Portman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Alicia Vikander, Charlize Theron, Mila Kunis, Penelope Cruz, Jennifer Garner, Amy Adams, Diane Kruger, Kim Basinger, Brigitte Bardot, Summer Glau, Neve Campbell, Michelle Yeoh, Elisabeth Moss, , Cyd Charisse, Gal Gadot, Kristen Wiig, Dita Von Teese, Emily Tyra, Sarah Hay and Christian Bale, Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jamie Bell, James Dean, Mads Mikkelsen, Tupac Shakur, Ryan Gosling, Patrick Swayze, Sasha Radetsky, and Channing Tatum?
And these incredible athletes: Lynn Swann – Former American Football player, Rio Ferdinand – -English Former Football player, Herschel Walker — Football legend and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter, Steve Mclendon – American Football Player, Evander Holyfield — Four- time heavyweight boxing world champion, and Willie Gault – Former American Football player?
And we mustn’t forget these: Mozart, Madonna, Will Young, Freddie Mercury and Raum Emanuel – Mayor of Chicago?
They’ve ALL STUDIED BALLET.
Comments from some of the above:
“If you can survive a ballet workout, you can survive a workout in any other sport.” -Jean-Claude Van Damme
– “Ballet is probably one of the hardest things I have done, almost like MMA.”- Herschel Walker
“The hardest part was turning my feet out. And there’s no way I can get right up on my toes. Now, that takes real athletic ability. I’m not real hung up on the macho aspect of football. Ballet isn’t a sissy sport.” – Willie Gault
“… ballet is harder than anything else I do” – Steve Mclendon
Some more insights:
Mads Mikkelsen revealed that the elegant, calm mannerisms of Hannibal Lecter were inspired by classical musicians and ballet dancers, rather than traditional villains.
Gal Gadot’s ballet training probably contributed quite a bit to her success because her grace, stability, and physical strength were the factors that helped her to present a melee Amazon with a seemingly effortless style. Every fight sequence and display of power is to some extent influenced by her dancer’s training.
Summer Glau: Before she was flipping through the air in Firefly, Summer Glau was a dedicated ballerina, even homeschooling to keep up with her training schedule. A foot injury ended her ballet dreams, but her transition to acting let her bring that same expressiveness and precision to the screen.
Diane Kruger has often stated that dance was the first mechanism for her to express emotion, and that intensity is still present in her work.
Charlize Theron: Her grace, control, and physical sense on film are dancer energy through and through, and she’s frequently credited with her training instilling within her the discipline that characterizes her career.
There are so many more testimonials and paeans to the value of ballet studies available.
Perhaps studying ballet as a child or as an adult may not guarantee fame or success, but I hope these folks and their words will prove an inspiration to you. Perhaps you’ll consider adding ballet to your fitness plan now.
balletespressivo.com 