Dance question: dance/dancer bodies?

Darrin Hixenbaugh: Only ballet for professional dancers really requires a specific body type. Only 2% of the population is born with the bone and muscle structure required for a career in the ballet. For modern/contemporary you can be any body type as long as you are in the best shape for that body type if you wish to pursue it as a profession. Your line and facility are very important there too. Tap...again any body type.For ballet as a profession you must have both a high arch and high instep (top bump) in regards to feet. Also 90 degrees of turnout from each hip coming from the hip rotators giving you a 180 foot stance. Long stretchy achilles tendons, long legs, long arms, long neck, short torso. Narrow hips and no real curves. It is all about the line. Thin and generally between 5' 2" to 5' 7" in height. You must have a great deal of facility as well as musicality. There have been dancers who have been shorter and taller than what I listed who have had careers in the ! ballet. Also some without long necks and not so short torsos. Most important are the feet, turnout and achilles tendons and of course you must have a great line and facility for dance.For recreational dance, you can be any size or shape. However, having a decent amount of turnout and knowing how to engage what you have for ballet is a big help. Also having a foot with at least some degree of arch will help when attempting pointe work....Show more

Tatiana Evanosky: A ballerina generally is waif-like or very thin. But over time muscular in a small compact way.A contemporary dancer generally has a larger or heavier body type. But still smaller than general population.A tapper has very strong leg muscles.But all this is general. Any one of any body type can do any style of dance, with LOTS of practice....Show more

Marita Stadick: I won't be specific. Though i will answer your question :) (btw, google serves well for a question like this you know). There are thre! e classic body types. Although most people are a mixture of tw! o, you should be able to categorise yourself according to the descriptions below:Mesomorph: Large bones and well-defined muscles, with even proportions. Tend to excel at power-based sports such as sprinting, rugby and weightlifting.Endomorph: Curvier with relatively short limbs, small hands and feet and high waists. A higher percentage of body fat and less muscle. Best at endurance-based sports, such as cross-Channel swimming.Ectomorph: Small build with low body fat and narrow hips, waists, ankles and wrists. Tend to excel at distance running....Show more