Leotards For Men: Male Dancers In Action

Can the battle for ballet supremacy be somewhat brutal? Yes, it can, if five machos are in action and if it is staged by Cuban choreographer Eduardo Blanco. The new wave choreographer has recently introduced his emotional ballet Acendos to the Canadian audience in which he attempted to bring out the masculine potential and challenge the classic technique. He fell in love with ballet as a boy but being too short to become a leading dancer, devoted himself full-time to choreography that can express dark thoughts and fire the viewer’s imagination.

The history of male dancing

Traditionally ballet is associated with graceful ballerinas in tutu skirts and pointe shoes but men dance, too. Men were the first professional dancers in the history of ballet who performed in front of King Louis XIV and his court in the 1600s and were the first students of the academy of dance founded by him in 1661. Unlike modern lightweight leotards for men, early dance outfits consisted of court apparel, knee breeches and heeled shoes which restricted freedom of movement. As foot and legwork grew more intricate and sophisticated, dancewear became more comfortable, lightweight and flexible. In the early 1900s Russian male dancers took the international stage by storm and introduced ballet to the audience in a completely new light. Nijinsky was the first performer to appear on posters and to be idolised by the audience.

Ballet dancewear

Gone are the days of heavy, uncomfortable dancing clothes. The wardrobe of modern male dancers comprises dance belts, unitards, tights, shorts, tops, shoes and leotards for men. They are made from lightweight, stretchy and figure-hugging fabrics to add to the flowing look on stage. Dancing clothes are now available in a range of colours, styles and designs and are suitable for warm-up activities, rehearsals and stage performances. Their function is to protect the body from injuries, support core muscles and provide maximum comfort. Unlike early outfits, contemporary dancewear is designed and manufactured with the modern performer in mind.

The year 2011 was a time of grace, surprise and entertainment for Canadian lovers of ballet, with the Cuban National Ballet contributing a good deal to that. The Cuban casts added an emotional touch to the classic ballet without compromising on traditions, while Acendos staged by choreographer Eduardo Blanco made the audience assess male ballet from a new perspective. Who knows, maybe the 2012 season will bring new revelations about the muscular side of ballet?