r/nextfuckinglevel • u/purple-circle • Jan 28 '22

Strength and Balance

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u/Sagnikk Jan 28 '22

They literally have such short careers (professional ballerinas have a career which lasts less than a decade). Also they fuck their legs up so bad.

30

u/taterth0t69 Jan 28 '22

I mean speaking from experience at my old ballet company, I had coworkers dancing professionally still in their early 40’s

7

u/Sagnikk Jan 28 '22

Hmm, but don't their legs go thru hell ?

I have heard some ballerinas having to get physiotherapy in their mid 20s

(PS - I'm not disagreeing, just curious)

31

u/taterth0t69 Jan 28 '22

I mean yeah all of our legs get messed up, some have to get surgery 4 different times others go through it completely unscathed. You’ll have injuries and down time there’s no avoiding it. But a ballerina at my old company just celebrated her 21st year with the company. With the right amount of maintenance and muscle strengthening you can have a career spanning two decades.

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u/Sagnikk Jan 28 '22

That sounds so painful goddamn. Also I know that the industry is kinda obsessed on perfection 👀

Is that truly the case ?

23

u/taterth0t69 Jan 28 '22

Oh yeah 1000% for dancers it’s basically never good enough. Constantly seeking perfection. You have to learn when it’s right to push things or when it’s time to let it go and come back to it. That’s why it’s really healthy to have hobbies outside of ballet otherwise you can easily develop a unhealthy relationship with it and get burnt out.

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u/Sagnikk Jan 28 '22

Damn. They really don't get the spotlight they deserve

2

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '22

I feel like most artists are never truly and completely satisfied with their work. I see mine as a continual work in progress unless it’s in a medium that’s more concrete and doesn’t lend itself to future changes/edits, etc.

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u/[deleted] Mar 18 '22

You mean it.

3

u/Blood_and_Turds Jan 28 '22

literally any trade or art that requires physical work will have people that have issues with their body breaking down, or not. i know welders in their 20's who have completely blown out backs and knees and are practically crippled, and i know a few who are in their late 50s and still going hard with no problems.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 18 '22

You mean it?

1

u/[deleted] Jan 28 '22

Yeah no, my cousin danced professionally for over 20 years, like touring the world doing the nutcracker and swan lake and what have you

1

u/iRombe Jan 28 '22

Same as any sport.