Ballet Short Facts


1. A Male dancer lifts over one and a half tonnes worth of ballerinas during performances
2. Professional ballerinas can typically wear out 2-3 pairs of pointe shoes per week
3. One tutu can cost up to about 1700 to make.
4. A tutu can require 60-90 hours of labor and approximately 100 yards of ruffle.
5. A 3 hour ballet performance is the equivalent of 2 90-minute soccer games back to back or running 18 miles.
6. Pointe shoes add around 7 inches of new height to a dancer.
7. A prima ballerina can complete 32 fouette turns all the while staying in the exact same spot on the floor. After the turns, her pointe shoe tip is HOT to the touch.  Thereafter the shoes are so worn that they are typically only used for rehearsal.

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The Cleveland Ballet Please see https://clevelandballet.wordpress.com To encourage and promote the education, training and performance in the art of classical ballet in Cleveland.
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2 Responses to Ballet Short Facts

  1. gladisa Guadalupe says:

    Very educational and informative. Wishing professional dancers residing in Cleveland will post comments. The lack of a professional ballet performance season in Cleveland is greatly missed!

    • EXCITING: Thank You to Gladisa Guadalupe, a former principal dancer, for commenting on this Blog. We are so pleased with your visit!

      Gladisa Guadalupe’s short bio (taken from the website of her school, Cleveland School of Dance ( see http://www.clevelandschoolofdance.org ):

      GLADISA GUADALUPE – Born in San Juan Puerto Rico, Gladisa Guadalupe started her training with Ballet de San Juan, becoming one the company’s youngest members. As a Scholarship Alumna of the School of American Ballet she trained with the faculty of the New York City Ballet’s school. While performing with Ballet Nuevo Mundo de Caracas, Ms. Guadalupe toured South America, the Orient and Europe. In 1983, she joined Cleveland Ballet where she performed as a principle dancer.

      After retiring from the stage, Ms. Guadalupe served as Director and Principle Teacher at the School of Cleveland Ballet. There she was credited for maintaining the school’s high quality of training and artistic standards. Concurrently, she acted as an Artistic and Company Teacher for Cleveland San Jose Ballet Company. Ms. Guadalupe received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Cleveland State University and a diploma from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts.

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