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Do you hate Ballet?
by Finis Jhung
A frequent comment made by
Hip-Hoppers and Jazz Dancers is "I hate ballet."
That’s sad . . . you may have your reasons, but you’re missing out on some very
important training that could seriously affect your future.
Ballet has been the beginning of several enormously successful careers.
I’m thinking of people I’ve had in my ballet class, like Patrick Swayze,
Sharon Lawrence, Bebe Neuwirth, Charlotte D’Amboise, and Gillian Lynne.
Patrick Swayze studied with me when he was in New York. While he was taking my class, he
had knee problems, and I thought he was another talented young dancer aiming for a ballet
career. Well, who could have predicted he would have become the famous Hollywood actor
that he is? Ballet teaches you to "never give up", to keep working towards
goals, and certainly the years of dedication and discipline that Mr. Swayze gave to ballet
technique have stood him well. His cat- like grace as a dancer, posture and great physique
are certainly attributes that made him distinctive and stand out from other actors.
Sharon Lawrence studied with me while she was still performing in musicals like
"Cabaret". In recent years, we’ve seen Sharon’s video career skyrocket
with shows like NYPD BLUE, and big network specials with her name above the titles. I
remember her in ballet class as working quietly and doing every exercise full out and with
expertise. Again, as with Patrick, I never imagined she’d go full time into acting
and become the star that she is. When you see Sharon on TV, you notice how poised and
graceful and beautiful she looks. I’m sure her years of ballet training have
something to do with that.
Bebe Neuwirth is no slouch in ballet class either. We see her on all the posters for
"CHICAGO" that are in the subways and on buses in NYC, and she is well known for
her role on "CHEERS" and "FRAZIER", as well as films and TV specials.
And all the other women in "CHICAGO" (not to mention most of the men) all have
had ballet training to a fairly serious level, some having performed in professional
companies. There’s a reason they all have such great looking bodies and look so
slinky and sexy -- they’re ballet trained, their muscles have been stretched and
toned and they have the long lines of classical ballet training.
Charlotte D’Amboise first came to my attention while appearing in "CATS" on
Broadway. You may have seen her recently, on the road with "CHICAGO." Charlotte
is a dynamically powerful performer, and she’s got legs that go on for days and a
body that exudes energy. Again, she is an accomplished ballet dancer, and always comes
back to class when she has the time. As I think of her, and her great legs (and Bebe's,
too) those muscles have been beautifully worked and stretched doing tendu and dégagé and
all the other exercises in ballet class. I’ve also noticed that performers like
Charlotte work very intelligently in ballet class - they’re there to get what they
need, and they get it and go on with their careers.
Gillian Lynne choreographed the original "CATS" and "PHANTOM"
productions on Broadway. She was raised in the world of ballet, dancing traditional
ballerina roles like the Lilac Fairy in England. And if you’ve seen and loved
"CATS", you know that this is one of the most demanding shows every
choreographed. It’s a killer, which may be why it’s the longest running show in
Broadway history. In fact, just last night, a visiting teacher from Tacoma told me she was
brought to tears by the end of the show. It may seem a long way from Lilac Fairy to CATS,
but that’s show biz. You know, if you want to bring things out of your cast when
you’re choreographing, you’d better have paid your dues yourself, and put
yourself in a learning situation where you take orders and respond to directions from
others. You go back and "woodshed" it until you get it right. That’s ballet
training at it’s best.
The point we’re making here is that ballet is the best foundation you can have. . .
for just about any career you can think of. Ballet training requires discipline and
dedication. It is a discipline that demands exactness. It shapes your body and your mind.
And, along the way, you can build up a formidable dance technique that can be exciting and
dazzling. The confidence of knowing you can balance, turn, and jump will stand you in good
stead when you have those big auditions. There’s nothing like real skill, and knowing
what you’re doing and that you can deliver the goods. Stick with it!
Finis Jhung |
