Ex-Dancer Attempts Extreme Ballet Training

To clarify, pointe shoes do NOT have wood in them. They are made with layers of fabrics stiffened by glue. Also, please never try this without years of continuous ballet training. Pointe is EXTREMELY dangerous! I’m so glad you’re okay, you were definitely much better than me on my first pointe class!

As a ballet dancer of 14 years… im honestly beyond shocked at how well you did.

As someone who did ballet in my mom's womb, you did amazing

Interesting Fact: The best ballet school in the world Vaganova would not even accept a child if they had back fused. They are able to tell if someone could be a ballet dancer at the age of 8. Its fascinating.

dude you never realize how difficult ballet is until you try it

As someone who has struggled for years with pointes, Haley, you’re a natural! There’s no way I could have done what you did in my first class!!!!

As someone who has never been a dancer but did do martial arts, I am So Pleased to see an example of how hard it is to make your body do subtle, balanced motions at all, let alone dance. Ballet is so f/ing hard, professional dancers are truly a special breed, and a gift.

As a ballet dancer, I don’t think people realise just how hard it is. There are so many things to think about at once. Posture, feet, head, eyes, doing things gracefully, oh and of course I can’t forget that you also have to look effortless while doing it.

It is NOT FAIR that she got that echappé passé combo so quickly. THAT TOOK ME ONE TOO MANY CLASSES TO MASTER

A series of you trying different dance styles with someone who does them regularly? I’d love that!

I did ballet on off for about 30 years. I was pretty good but never made it pro. It was very extremely hard but so exhilarating when you got that move. What's not exhilarating is practicing a dance for months that brings you to tears because it's so difficult (even for the best students in class) and finally getting it and you're so happy...and then bombing it on stage 😓😓😓 I decided to never set foot into a studio ever again! Over 5 years later I discovered pole dancing and I love it🙏🙏🙏 That 1st pole class is just one of many reasons why I'm so thankful now for putting in all those years and effort to ballet even though I never made it professionally. At 46 Ive been poling for a few years and every practice makes me more thankful for my ballet background. If anyone that has never tried ballet discredits it, hand them a pair of pointe shoes 💪

Girl for your first ballet class you did great

As an ex-ballet dancer who quit after I reached my 9 year mark of ballet, ballet is not only very physically torturing, but also mentally torturing. Maybe I wasn't strong enough in both sectors, but after my 6th year of ballet, I began feeling very insecure about myself and my self-confidence was just non-existent. You have to learn not to compare yourself with other dancers. Sure, people may have their leg up at 90 degrees, and you'll feel frustrated that you're at 45 degrees, but you have to learn to accept that your body goes at its own pace. It's an art form that requires you to be patient with yourself, while loving yourself. Unfortunately, I was in a ballet school that wasn't very accepting of that, which is how I've ended up here today. Don't get me wrong, I love ballet. I love dancing and I love the joy ballet gives me. But that joy was only in the moment then. After lessons, I'd come home, body aches all over, mentally exhausted, and starting my homework at 10pm. I'd never get enough sleep. And the time ballet took along with school hours made me feel isolated from my peers. I was always feeling lonely. I think Haley has put this art form beautifully into words: “It honestly inspires me that people will go through this much pain day in and day out to perfect an art that tortures their own bodies, simply because they love it.” We sacrifice and we give. To some, the reward is worth it. To others like me, it kills us. Ballet is truly not only a test of physical strength, grace and control, but also a test of your self-love, growth and mental strength. May all my fellow dancers out there find worth in what you do, in every second of your lives.

As someone who is mainly trained in ballet I have to say you were actualy pretty good and pirouettes on point scare me as well so I totaly knew how you felt. And this colab is amazing I love you two <3

That smile is a winner! I was a ballet teacher for many years and for your first time, Girl you were amazing. Absolutely aMAZing.

In my humble opinion, ballet dancers are the fittest, strongest and most limber people ever! They are super human.

As a ballet dancer of 9 years I am amazed by how quickly you learned the “final test” it was honestly, so impressive, great job!!!

And THIS is why I have always wished I had more strength than flexibility. Your leg may not get higher than 45 degrees, but you have the leg and core strength to support yourself! Myself being a human noodle with very wobbly joints, my 3 years of pointe were miserable. Quitting and just doing everything in soft shoes was the best decision ever lol

As an ex ballet dancer I never really enjoyed dance, I was forced to do ballet since my sister was doing it. I always said that dance didn’t take much effort and wasn’t fun. Which is true for me in a since, my teacher would get mad over the smallest things like my head being titled, and most of my teachers were like that. Before dance I did gymnastics which was my happy place. I enjoyed being there, and my teachers were really nice. I had always loved gymnastics, cause I found it more challenging in a way then ballet which was all about being perfect and graceful, but in gymnastics I felt like I could be perfect but also have a little bit excitement added to each lesson. I am now back in gymnastics which was the best decision ever! Since I was always pushed to do dance that was one reason I didn’t have passion for it, and seeing the older girls dance just made me feel like I couldn’t do anything. In gymnastics since I have passion for it I am also up for the challenge and I love looking at the older girls and hoping that will be me one day. So if you love dance do it! If you love gymnastics do it! The choice should be yours!

You are very honnest. It also makes people realize things are not that easy. So well done .