Dancing Ballet
The Performance Skills you HAVE to know!

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On this page are the performing skills a dancer needs in order to be successful. When you become a professional dancer, the main purpose is to perform and be on stage in the limelight.

When working within the dancing profession and in a dance company, it’s important to have the skills to work in the theatre world.

The skills I’m about to describe are interpretive skills which you can achieve mentally when dancing ballet.

To find out the technical skills which you can physically achieve click here

When dancing ballet in any dance company they would expect you to have the following skills -

Style, Focus, Projection, Musicality, Concentration, Communication with audience, Sensitivity to other Performances, Spatial awareness, Timing

Style

The individual features of a choreography or performance

This could be characteristics of a particular dancer's performance that we always recognise - their personal interpretation. As well as having a unique style with a sense of individuality, it’s important for dancers to be able to interpret different styles and to be versatile.

Focus

Use of Eyes

Focus could be between dancers, into the stage space or towards the audience. Focus helps the audience interpret the qualities the choreographer wants from the dance. When dancing ballet the use of eye focus can make a dramatic difference.

Projection

When a dancer gives out a certain type of energy from the body

Projection gives the movement a noticeable quality and is something a choreographer will want in the performance. It makes the dancer's movements reach beyond the body and draws the audience into what is happening.

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Musicality

How a dancer is able to perform in relation to the music

Musicality can be how the dancer complements and follow the qualities and sounds in the music. It’s vital to have musicality when in a ballet company because, for example, it’ s an aspect that helps all the corps de ballet dancers be in time with each other.

Concentration

Focusing on your attention and mental effort

All ballet teachers and choreographers expect dancers to have good concentration. Being able to concentrate brings out the fullest ability into you as a dancer. You won’t give yourself the chance to improve if your mind is elsewhere.

Communication with audience

What makes a great dancer is one who can perform and connect with their audience. The reason why people go to watch ballets is to get a sense of joy and entertainment, so it’s key dancers express themselves. You have to let part of your personality shine through so that the audience begin to warm to you.

Sensitivity to other Performances

It is a wonderful quality for a dancer to be considerate of the others around you. It will go to your advantage if you are thoughtful towards the other performers. This trust of respect will get you far. In ballet it's an extremely small world and you never know who you'll meet on the way back down.

Spatial awareness

This is a very valuable skill to have, especially for when you begin to dance with a professional ballet company. Dancers have to be spatially aware especially when dancing in a corps de ballet. No company will want a dancer who is out of control and gets in the way of all the other performers on stage.

Timing

In any ballet sequence or piece of choreography, it's beneficial to have a good sense of rhythm. Having good timing will enable you to dance the steps to a higher quality. You will feel more confident if you have the right timing and the steps will look more precise.

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