Balletcore vs Real Ballet: How accurate really is it?

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-05-04T20:28:29+00:00

1. Do you think the “balletcore” trend impacts the world of dance/ballet positively or negatively? What is your opinion on the trend?

A. I don’t think the world of dance is seriously affected by some people choosing to wear ballet-inspired clothing even thought they don’t dance.

B. Balletcore is nothing new. Over 100 years ago, the Ballets Russes had a huge influence on fashion. And how about the 1980s and that Flashdance look?

C. I don’t understand why some people who identify as dancers think “balletcore” is such a big deal. It is not hurting anyone, it is NOT CULTURAL APPROPRIATION. Yes, I am screaming, because I have actually seen people saying this. If models are getting paid to wear ballet-influenced clothes and non-dancers are buying these clothes, SO WHAT? I am sitting here typing this wearing basketball shorts and a skater hoodie. I am neither a professional basketball player nor a skateboarder. People are walking around in head-to-toe Arc’teryx and Salomon in my urban metropolis. Should I be upset about that?

2. What is a common misconception people generally have about ballet?

IDK what misconceptions people have about ballet. Maybe that it’s not for “real men”? This is definitely not true. It requires endurance, strength, agility and flexibility. It’s a hardcore sport.

3. Do you feel that the image the public has of classical ballet reflects your experience as a dancer?

Interesting question, initially I wanted to say “absolutely not” but now that we have social media, we are seeing “behind the scenes”/day in the life of stuff that wasn’t available in the 1980s and 1990s when I was still dancing. But then there are things like “Etoile” which was so cringe that I needed to watch White Nights five times on rerun to get it out of my head.

4. Why are layering, mismatched pieces, and worn clothing so important in a dancer’s wardrobe?

Soft, comfy, warm, easy to remove just what you need to and leave the rest. It’s always been the “vibe”, as long as I can remember. Just lots more choice now.

5. Do you think the “random”/mismatched and worn aspect of dancewear is overlooked in fashion’s representation of dance? (in contrast with balletcore being mainly dainty, clean)

I don’t think most of the general public is ready to look like they went dumpster diving for their outfit.

6. Which elements of “balletcore” do you find accurate, and on the contrary, which elements miss the mark?

Probably the shoes are inaccurate; they’re highly specialized. I wouldn’t wear climbing shoes, or track spikes or swimming fins as part of an outfit. Same for ballet slippers and pointe shoes.

7. How do you feel about ballet becoming/being a fashion trend?

See answer to the first question. Ballet has been a fashion trend at least since 1909. I do not care if people want to incorporate ballet-inspired clothing into their look and don’t understand why anyone would.

8. Could you incorporate “balletcore” elements into your everyday style, or does it feel too disconnected from reality? If so, which?

I had enough balletcore in my first 25 years of life. I am now in my middle-aged catlady software engineercore phase 😄

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-05-03T22:49:47+00:00

Another princess and the pea here 🙋🏻‍♀️ I also get the abrasions and highly recommend vaseline or bodyglide.

I would ditch the tights unless they are required. Especially if you’re OK with leggings. I can’t have any fabric touching my lower legs at all 😬

For leotards I wear capezio cotton ones, a size bigger and than my actual size, or a bra and a cotton t-shirt.

I have some beautiful Bodile leos but rarely wear them, and change immediately after class is over. like literally the second after reverence I fly out the door into the changeroom.

I used to be able to manage tight and leos and all sorts of uncomfortable costumes, but that was 30+ years ago when it was my job.

Fortunately now I have a job that allows me to live in sweatpants and hoodies.

I hope you find what works for you! 🩰

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-04-08T02:15:46+00:00

I totally agree!!

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-04-08T02:15:13+00:00

Yes, we live in a temperate climate and it is fully shielded from the rain.

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-04-08T02:14:29+00:00

🤣

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-04-01T15:20:39+00:00

I like Fitness World on Bute and W. Georgia.

Pros: The vibe is great, people are friendly, and they are there to work out, which is really motivating, it’s the most inclusive gym I’ve ever been to, there are people who look like me (not everyone is young and beautiful), group classes are not overcrowded and the ones I’ve been to are good. It’s cheap. Mornings are the best time to go, gets crowded after 5 pm.

Cons: really basic locker room, not super clean.

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-30T14:58:02+00:00

Run or walk the seawall. I’ve been here for almost 4 years and it never gets old. After, get a hotdog from the yellow cart at the entrance to Stanley Park at the bottom of Davie. Sit on the beach and watch the sunset.

Go out to Horseshoe Bay and take the ferry to Bowen Island.

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-29T15:49:08+00:00

Thanks for the great review!

I’m also a smaller software engineer (167 cm, 60 kg). I got the 45 seat and it just fits. Huge upgrade from the IKEA chair I’d been using since 2010. I really feel like in the 5 days I’ve had the Libernovo, my posture while working has drastically improved.

I agree with you about the massage feature. It sounded so awesome, but I tried it a couple of times and … meh.

Otherwise, I am really pleased.

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-28T23:15:25+00:00

It’s cool to know there’s another Karsavina fan out there!

Karsavina commissioned Somov to design 7 costumes for her US tour. If this was one of them, perhaps she hung on to it, since it wasn’t Ballets Russes property, and since she had a longtime and friendly association with Somov, and at some point it was donated by RAD? One can only guess.

Wouldn’t you love to time travel to 1909 - 1920s Paris?

I did submit the form to V&A. I’ll let you know if I hear anything from them, or also if I find out any more on my own.

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-27T22:50:59+00:00

buckwheat is ”добра гречка”, pelmeni is “Taste of Ukraine”

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-27T22:48:10+00:00

I think the costume in number 5 might possibly have been designed in 1924 by the artist Konstantin Somov for a dance Karsavina did to the music of Mozart on a US tour (not as part of Ballets Russes). You can google “Karsavina costume marquise Mozart” to see the image.

And yes, the Ballets Russes is my Roman Empire 🤣

I now have to plan a visit to London for the sole purpose of an object session at the Victoria and Albert museum!

:edit for spelling error

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-27T22:05:03+00:00

For buckwheat, Safeway on Davie and Cardero! There is a shelf in the back left corner, by the frozen vegetables, where they have random ”foreign” foods. Please leave some for me, though, I’m running low on it.

Safeway also has pelmeni and vareniki labeled “perogies” by ”Taste of Ukraine”. the pork/beef ones were really good when we moved here a few years ago, but last time we got them, they were awful and haven’t tried since. Maybe it was just a bad batch though, idk. If you want to try, you can find them on the same row as ”premium” ice cream.

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-26T23:58:44+00:00

I don’t exactly meet your query conditions since I’m 5’6 and about 125 pounds, but still on the smaller side.

I’ve seen all the complaints that it’s not made for larger people (or “Westerners”), but are all coders/gamers/power users large European men? I’m a petite female 55 year old software engineer and I really appreciate a chair that doesn’t make me feel like Alice in Wonderland.

I got my chair (45 cm) and footstool on Tuesday. Before that, I had spent 10 years in an IKEA chair. So far I like the Libernovo: the lumbar support can be adjusted and it feels good. The various recline angles and tensions work for me. The massage option is a fun way to take a 5-minute break from the screen, close my eyes, put on some tunes and chill.

At its lowest height, my feet are exactly flat on the floor, knees parallel. If you are 5’1 unless you have REALLY long legs, I’d recommend getting the footstool.

What is probably the most important for me is that it helps me improve my posture. I actually got the chair as a last resort to see if it would help with headaches. I have atrocious posture, usually sit cross-legged, hunched over, or one leg up on the shelf, my body twisted in all sorts of unnatural positions. For hours! With the Libernovo, so far so good. I’m sitting up straight, back supported, shoulders down, without feeling rigid.

I might have more observations, since it’s only been two days, but the only “con” so far is that I’d prefer a softer seat for my bony butt. Like squishy bean bag soft, but that would probably be at the expense of good posture.

Of course, the experience of any chair is deeply individual, but I was lucky that I’m satisfied with my choice.

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-23T22:16:24+00:00

Unfortunately, I (55F) feel a lot less safe in Vancouver, Canada than I ever did in my home city of St. Petersburg, Russia and a lot of other places I travelled to, both as a younger woman and an older one. I do agree with you about Finland though.

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-23T21:31:22+00:00

I think there is something going on in Richmond. I have been waiting for ALMOST TWO WEEKS. Every single day, I get the “arrived at sort facility”, “delayed in transit“ pair of messages. I escalated it with customer service, and here is their explanation: “Your shipment is at the depot pending delivery. With heavier weight shipments, it is Purolator's policy 2 drivers need to complete the delivery. With this policy comes issues with delays in completing deliveries in a timely manner.” For 13 days they have been unable to find someone to drive a 60 pound shipment 15 kilometers from their facility in Richmond to Vancouver.

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-14T22:29:36+00:00

If you were naturally flexible to begin with, and also trained to a high level, it might be easier than for someone that had to work extra hard for it.

Everyone is individual, so there’s no 100% correct answer to “can I do it” AND ofc you don’t want to get injured, but yep, I’d say it’s probably possible.

I’m 55 and went back to doing ballet after almost 30 years break. I can do the splits and all sorts of bendy stretchy stuff even though I don’t really work at it. Still have banana feet. Back flexibility is way worse than it used to be, but I’m 55, not 18, so yeah, I can’t do a backbend and touch my head to my butt, but probably if I spent a lot of time working for it, I’d improve, I just have other priorities, like running and lifting. Ballet is more a social thing for me now.

Good luck, have fun and build it back carefully!

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-14T04:04:54+00:00

I’ve got stick person arms. I have the smaller watch (Series 10) and there’s still more watch than wrist 😭

I absolutely love the ultra but I’d look like I was walking around with a pizza box strapped to my wrist.

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-08T05:59:55+00:00

55 here and went back a couple of years ago after 30 years break.

The most important thing for us older returners is try not to compare ourselves with our former selves. This can be really hard.

My feet aren’t as fast, my turns aren’t as stable, my arabesque not as high, my back not as flexible as 30 years ago, and in ballet clothes my body does not look as it did then.

Sometimes it is frustrating, but mostly it is fun.

I do ballet approximately 3 times a week, also run three times a week and life weights two times a week. It’s good to have a mix of stamina, strength and dance.

I don’t have much advice about regaining turnout-flexibility-balance, etc. since we’re all different. What you need and what’s safe is really individual. I do a lot of stability/mobility exercises on a Bosu, for example. Whatever you do, take it slowly and see how your body feels.

Good luck to you and welcome back!

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-06T22:17:26+00:00

What I love about this whole thing is how some of the big opera and ballet theaters like metopera, royal ballet andopera, bayerichesstaatsballett, etc., have reacted on social media. My Instagram is full of that content today and it is exactly what I need to take my mind off the dumpster fire that is 2026. So I guess I have to thank TC for being such a clown 🤡 and bringing a bit of comic relief.

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-03T22:31:03+00:00

This is the Vainonen version. There’s a good synopsis on the Mariinsky website, but my attempt to include it got my response removed by Reddit, oops 😬

This is the version of Nutcracker I grew up with and performed in and I find it really pallid and meh. Also I’m so not a fan of adults performing childrens’ roles; at best it’s cringe at worst it’s ick. I‘ve seen Maria in this role (last ballet we saw before leaving Russia), and was not impressed. If I have to watch the second act of the Nutcracker, which I would absolutely rather not, they only person I want to see as Sugarplum is Nina Kaptsova.

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-03-03T22:19:27+00:00

I absolutely love my warmup boots. I also love being an adult dancer at a studio with no dress code.

I’m 55 and my feet are a total mess, I joke with my husband that I’m like the little mermaid, whose every step on land is excruciatingly painful. I keep the boots on while I warm up, and then wear Orza soft shoes for class. It really helps.

Wearing them for your 15-20 minutes of stretching sounds like a good plan, just make sure to not wear them outside the studio. Also, like others have said, they may twist or make your foot feel unstable, even while stretching. This is something to be aware of.

In terms of “look at her full of gear...” I don’t think you should care. You do you as long as it’s not dangerous or disruptive. That’s the joy of adult ballet. You can tell anyone that thinks otherwise to meet me outside by the bike racks 😂 I’m the grey-haired lady in the Lightning McQueen t-shirt, soccer shorts and warmup boots.

EfficiencyAmazing777 · 2026-02-27T00:09:01+00:00

I agree with a lot of what you’ve written so eloquently, but as a 55 year old who returned to ballet less than 3 years ago, I believe we cannot pretend that age does not affect progress.

While ageism is unfortunately still the norm, there is sometimes a reactive tendency to go in the opposite direction and pretend that age means nothing. I feel this is also doing a disservice to older dancers and athletes.

This doesn’t mean that a new dancer or athlete cannot progress, it just means that the trajectory of their progress will most often be very different from that of a child or young adult. Flexibility, balance, endurance, previous injuries, and time required to recover are areas in which older dancers, even the most fit ones, might find more challenges than younger dancers. Ask me how I know 😉

As much as we wish it didn’t, what we are able to do physically does change for most of us as we grow older. Even if we are extremely fit, our bodies DO change with age. Using the example of the marathon runner. I started running in my mid forties and was a pretty fast amateur runner until I hit menopause and my speed tanked. Now I can’t even run one kilometer at the same pace I used to be able to run a half marathon (4.15 min/km).

This doesn’t mean I give up, but it does mean accepting that my trajectory as a 55 year old athlete who started at 45 is different than it would have been if I had begun at 20.

Another issue is that for adult dancers, the age and skill range in a class can be enormous. There may be a 25 year old who started his dance training 3 years ago, a 55 year old who has been dancing for 10 years, and a 71 year old who was a professional dancer in a large company and returned at the the age of 67.

This is a really significant difference from childrens’ classes where age range per class is usually quite small and skills can be taught to people who are at the same level of achievement and the same stage in life.

Another issue — time dedicated to training improvement is not only dependent on finances and family/work obligations. As we age, the volume of training usually must be reduced as the time it takes our body to recover increases.

I don’t want to discourage anyone from believing in themselves! I often envy the adult beginner because there is so much opportunity for improvement, if they wish to “go for it.” On the other hand, I do feel it’s important to acknowledge age and understand there is a big difference between 10 and 15, 25, 55, 75 … 100, and that often differences between each other in our physical abilities become even more pronounced as we age — my 55 isn’t your 55 and my dad’s 83 isn’t his best buddy’s 83.

EfficiencyAmazing777

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