Thursday, 27 June 2013

Ballet Barres are for the Young and the Young at Heart


While most people think of ballet lessons as being something for children, the fact is that they can be beneficial to people of all ages. That’s especially true of senior citizens, as offering lessons to those over 55 has been shown to have a number of benefits for people in this age group.

Dance instructor Alice Korsick began offering ballet lessons to residents of Sun City West, a retirement community near Phoenix, Arizona, a few years back. Upon doing so, she found her senior students responded well to their training, even when they had no previous dance experience. Many of them practiced completely on ballet barres at first until they were agile enough to take to the floor.

After having a positive response at Sun City West, Korsick then expanded her dance lessons to another retirement community, Sun City Grand. She had a positive response to her classes there as well. As a result, these seniors now produce several variety shows each year, many of them geared toward charitable organizations. Her students also perform a full-fledged musical at least annually.

Senior ballet classes in China have produced similar results.  A senior citizen’s dance studio in Tianjin has trained several students who were more than 60 years of age.  One of the students there claims that ballet has helped her become more agile and less prone to falling than she was before. Others have remarked that they have increased stamina and a more positive outlook on life after taking dance lessons.

Programs such as those in China and Arizona serve to prove that one is never too old to consider learning the art of ballet. Senior citizens could benefit from portable ballet barres to help them stay in peak condition no matter where they are. Boss Ballet Barres also has plenty of accessories to choose from as well. Contact us to find out more about the products we carry.

Friday, 14 June 2013

A Ballet Barre is a Fitness Studio Necessity


Fitness trends come and go. There are pole-dancing classes, Zumba classes, Jazzercise workouts...the list goes on. One fitness trend that seems to be here to stay is the ballet workout. Ballet dancers have lean, fit bodies that are strong but not bulky. In this article from the New York Times, author Kayleen Schaefer notes that in ballet barre workouts,

"...women focus on four body parts — arms, abdomen, gluteal muscles and thighs — with highly targeted, small movements designed to tone muscles without adding mass."

Celebrities and professional dancers alike do ballet workouts. Natalie Portman, for instance, whipped into shape for her role in "Black Swan" with private ballet barre workouts.

If your fitness studio does not currently offer ballet barre workouts, maybe they should. The beautiful, lean muscle tone of a dancer is best achieved through barre workouts. Pilates and yoga are great for toning, too, but the motions of a barre workout are subtly different. Movements are much smaller and more controlled. Again, according to the New York Times:

“Go down an inch, up an inch,” is an often heard command."

Because such precise discipline is necessary for a ballet workout, a sturdy and well-made ballet barre is absolutely necessary for support and balance. This kind of workout is very physically intense, but it is also very mentally challenging. Keeping tiny movements tight and controlled takes its toll, which is all the more reason to make sure your barre is the best.

Boss Ballet Barres can provide the barre you need in your fitness studio for the fitness trend that has the staying power of beautiful ballet.

Please contact us to update your fitness studio with a high-quality ballet barre today.