Ballet Competitions: Cons

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to our second post in the series 'Ballet Competitions'! In this post, we'll be learning all about the disadvantages of ballet competitions. Do they affect ballet dancers negatively? And how effective are they at helping dancers reach their professional goals?

Let's explore the fascinating world of ballet competitions!

First, a quick recap of what we discussed in our last post. Ballet competitions are events where ballerinas from all over a particular area come to participate and compete to win a prize, usually something ballet or cash related. But the real gain comes in them getting their chance to shine and get recognition from top ballet academies and companies, while also improving themselves in both technical and interpersonal skills.

Learn more here.

Now that we have a good understanding of how ballet competitions work and what they're advantages are, let's understand what it's disadvantages are.

One of the obvious ones is the rigour and intensity that most ballet dancers experience as they prepare for the competition, which could cause overuse injuries and fatigue, which may prevent them from performing to their best of abilities. 

There's also the fact that getting into competitive dance is just too expensive! Not only do you have to pay for the fees that are levied by most competitions, but you also have to pay for travel, costumes, props, shoes, extra classes, hair accessories and if it's in another country or state, airfares and hotel rooms too!  

It's also very common for competitions to focus less on technical aspects of the dancer's performance, and more so on areas like aesthetics, rigour, costumes, body, etc. This can make dancers neglect key techniques and do steps incorrectly as they practice in the pressure and haste for the perfectly aesthetic, and difficult-looking ballet. They may also indulge in harmful diets and behaviours to fit the standard.

And most importantly, ballet competitions can make ballerinas imbibe the wrong values and develop a 'winning is everything' attitude as they are influenced, bullied or berated by those around them, competitors, parents, and judges alike. This may lead to future issues, especially if comments are related to the dancer's body shape, an unfortunately common phenomenon. To know more about ballet's effect on mental health, see this link.

While ballet competitions have their fair share of benefits, it’s clear that they also come with significant challenges. From physical and financial strain to the mental and emotional toll, these events can sometimes do more harm than good if not approached carefully.

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that ballet is an art form, not just a contest. Competitions should be about celebrating the love of dance, not just winning a prize. If handled the right way—with balanced preparation, supportive environments, and realistic expectations—they can still be a positive experience.

What are your thoughts on ballet competitions? Do you think their drawbacks outweigh the benefits? Let us know in the comments below!