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Ballet, a graceful new hobby to keep in shape

 

Men and women participate in a ballet lesson at Apgujeong-dong. [Nam Won-chul]

Moving gracefully to cheerful piano music, a dozen amateur ballerinas and ballerinos bowed to their instructor last Thursday evening. Then, they turned to the pianist and bowed once more.

Is it the end of a ballet performance? No, it is the start of a lesson at a ballet academy for amateurs in Apgujeong-dong, southern Seoul.

"We bow to show courtesy and take the lessons seriously. The pianist comes in every lesson because then it is easier for the instructor to control the tempo of the music. Live music also provides a better ambience and helps everyone keep focused," said Choi Hye-jin, director of the academy Inside Ballet.

Ballet, which used to be considered the sole preserve of a small pocket of society, is rising as a popular hobby and a new means of fitness.

Numerous ballet academies throughout the country started amateur classes during the last few years. Some new academies, like Inside Ballet, are open exclusively to amateurs. The number of students has continuously increased during the seven years since Inside Ballet was established in 2003, said Choi.

"We have doctors, bankers, teachers, public officials and many others with different occupations who come and take ballet lessons after work. Most are women in their twenties or thirties, but there are also some elder women in their 40s or 50s and men," said Choi.

Two muscular men in black tights were easily spotted, posing behind a bar among slender girls. With beads of sweat standing on their foreheads, they did not seem to mind at all that they are surrounded by women, but were so concentrated on their steps that it was not an easy task to interrupt them for an interview.

"Of course, I felt extremely awkward at first to often be the only man," said Yun Seung-bo, a 33 year-old banker, laughing.

"But when the class starts, I have to concentrate and I don't have the time nor strength to pay attention to my surroundings. Though ballet sounds very feminine, the male dance is actually very manly. Ballet would be a good solution for Korean men who are not used to expressing their feelings."

Yun said that men can develop some muscles that cannot be developed by going to the gym.

"I went to the gym for many years before and also took dance sport lessons for about 10 years now. You get to build rough muscles at the gym, but through ballet you can build delicate muscles like Rain's," Yun said.

Yang Hee-hwon, 25, the other one of the two guys, had a specific reason to start ballet.

"I've been into street dancing since high school. I recently tried out for Korea National University of Arts as a modern dance major, but failed. I figured I needed some training on the basics of dance, which is obviously ballet," he said.

"Ballet training makes your pelvis turn out and it really helps you dance any kind of dance. And applying the basic ballet rules seem to upgrade all dances including B-boying."

It is still women, though, who mostly knock on the doors of ballet studios. They have different reasons, like to pursue their childhood dream, or to enjoy a unique hobby.

But of course, almost all ask if it is good for losing weight and making a slim, graceful figure.

"Ballet is the only dance that maintains a perfect posture while dancing. Its moves are very scientific, actually. You get to use the inside muscles, which you normally don't use. It straightens your muscles and posture. No ballerina has sagging hips," Choi said.

Some Korean women worry that their calf muscles might stand out too much if they start ballet, judging from the body lines of some ballerinas.

"You need the muscles to do ballet. They won't grow big but rather move upwards and make your ankle look slimmer and leg look longer. Stretching and maintaining good posture will even help you find your hidden heights and make you taller," Choi said.

Despite their great interest in ballet, not many women in their 30s or 40s succeed in attending the classes for many years because as a mother, they are always the first in the family to give up their hobbies when needed to, Choi said.

But when the family supports it and one's desire is strong enough, it is the mothers who enjoy ballet the most.

Kim Hye-suk commutes all the way from Namyangju in Gyeonggi Province to attend class. The 46 year old said she has been "addicted to ballet" for the past 5 years.

"I just happened to start ballet as a means of exercise. About 6 months later, I could feel that I learned how to really use my muscles and control my body. My back was a little bowed, but now it is straight and my hips, arms and shoulder line started to look great. And because I know I look better, I am more confident with myself in whatever I do," Kim said.

"I am not going to become a ballerina or anything, but this is a joy in my life. In other countries, even 90-year-old grandpas do ballet! I want to do ballet as long as my body permits," Kim added.

To help her students, Choi introduced a unique stretching program named Phyles, short for "Physical Ballet Stretching." The idea is to train muscles that are rarely used in everyday life but are needed in ballet. She actually came up with it to help heal her wounded husband -- Seo Jeong-jin, a former member of Universal Ballet -- a couple years ago. She now holds a patent for it and it is exclusively taught in her academy.

"As a hobby, ballet is not yet as popular as Yoga or Pilates. But unlike those, which one could gain the instructors' license within three months or so, ballet is taught by teachers that have majored in ballet for more than 20 years. They are not only more passionate, but can really bring a difference to the students," said Choi.

(claire@heraldm.com)

By Park Min-young