Ballet dancer

They rely on years of extensive training and proper technique to become a part of a professional ballet company.

[1] Ballet dancers typically begin training at an early age as young as three or four[2] if they desire to perform professionally and often take part in international competitions such as YAGP and Prix de Lausanne.

At these events, scholarships are being granted to the most talented dancers, enabling them to continue their training at renowned ballet schools around the world, such as the John Kranko Schule in Germany and the Académie de Danse Classique Princesse Grace in Monaco.

Ballet dancers finish center work practicing big leaps across the floor, which is called grande allegro.

[1] Ballet dancers are susceptible to injury because they are constantly putting strain and stress on their bodies and their feet.

[5] The upper body of a ballet dancer is prone to injury because choreography and class exercises require them to exert energy into contorting their backs and hips.

Landing incorrectly (not through the foot, with knees bent) from jumps and dancing on pointe may increase the risk of broken bones and weakened ankles where care and attention is not taken by a conscientious teacher or student.

Some ballet dancers also turn to stretching or other methods of cross training, like Pilates, yoga, non impact cardio, and swimming.

This outside training, attempts to minimize the risk of bodily damage by increasing strength, exercise diversity, and stamina.

In French and Italian, gender-neutral words for such purposes simply never existed (at least historically), and customary usage in English-speaking ballet companies was originally borrowed from those languages.

Ballet companies continue to rank their dancers in hierarchical fashion; most have adopted a gender-neutral classification system.

Such is the case with the Dutch National Ballet which has launched the Junior Company, which at times also tours and performs separately.

[7][page needed][verification needed] As used in Italy, the terms ballerino (a male dancer, usually in ballet) and ballerina do not imply the accomplished and critically acclaimed dancers once meant by the terms ballerina and danseur noble as they were used in English; rather, they simply mean one who dances ballet.

The title is very rarely used today and recent uses have typically been symbolic, in recognition of a notable career; as a result, it is commonly viewed as an honour rather than an active rank.