The Mathematics of Ballet

Counting is a very important part of ballet. Dancers must constantly be counting their steps in order to keep time with the music. If they...

The 4 corners and 4 walls in the studio are referred to as the “eight corners.” How many degrees do you have to rotate to get to each “corn...

Symmetry is an important part of ballet. It helps dancers balance. Notice the perfect symmetry of first and second position.

In a movement called fondue (“to melt”), the dancer must bend and straighten her legs equally at the same time. Although the legs do not ap...

Make sure you know which direction to turn! Choreographers specify if turns should be en dehors (clockwise) or en dedans (counterclockwise)...

Can you guess what double time would mean? Here’s a clue…

No, we’re not talking about a break in a football game… In dance, if a movement is does in half time, the amount of time has been cut in hal...

Pirouettes are turns of the body. A single pirouette is a full 360 degree rotation. A double pirouette rotates twice. Similar to the last ...

Similarly, if you add an extra beat to a jump, it must still be completed in the same amount of time. In an entrechat, a dancer moves her le...

Dance looks beautiful when arm and leg movements are coordinated. In this example, the movement of the arms remains constant, while the spee...

If you are doing an EVEN number of tendus, cross in the front of your other leg first. If you are doing an ODD number, cross in the back fir...

Barre exercies are often done with the feet working in the following order: front, side, back, side. This order is called “en croix,” whi...

In preschool and kindergarten we learn how to identify and draw a circle. As we have seen, dancers need to have a good understanding of angl...

Many dance exercises have precise specifications regarding the angle of the legs. Can you name the angles you see?

Here you can see how “half” and “full” movements are applied in a pas de chat and grande pas de chat.

Ballet dancers must have a good understanding of the physical capabilities of their bodies. This includes their maximum flexibility. Durin...

Ballet dancers are renowned for their flexibility and grace, but did you know that dancers must also be quick thinking mathematicians? Well...