How to live like a ballerina, according to professional dancers and stylish celebrities
At the New York City Ballet’s Fall Fashion Gala, we asked professional dancers and stylish celebrities — from Sarah Jessica Parker to Nicky Hilton Rothschild — how to get the ballerina look.
The ballet look is in vogue. “Balletcore” — think tulle, leggings, leg warmers etc. — can be seen on runways with "freaky tutus" and in department stores with Miu Miu’s popular $1,000 flats, on TikTok, where influencers share their hauls, and on celebrities like Jennifer Lopez. But balletcore isn’t just about fashion. It’s a lifestyle.
There’s the ballet physique — which is especially coveted, even in plastic surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ annual report, the “ballet body” has gained significant traction, with a “look [that] emphasizes a harmonious, proportionate and elegantly contoured body shape that reflects the grace and athleticism of a ballet dancer.” ASPS doctors say that women have expressed an increased interest in enhancements focused on "a healthy, athletic and elegant shape” and speculate that the appeal of this look is fueled by the growing popularity of weight-loss medications and the increased interest — among young women in particular — in fitness and “holistic well-being.” For those seeking out plastic surgery to get the ballerina look, liposuction, breast enhancement and noninvasive procedures like skin tightening and fillers are most popular, according to the ASPS.
But achieving the true ballerina look is about a lot more than appearance. It also takes hard work, eating well, the right attitude and more. On Oct. 9, the New York City Ballet hosted its Fall Fashion Gala — an annual event that brings couture designers, professional dancers and stylish celebrities together at Manhattan’s Lincoln Center. I attended the event to ask the guests and organizers for tips on how the ballet look can authentically be emulated. Here’s what they said.
How to get the ballerina look
Keep your head held high. Ballerinas and fashion-conscious celebrities alike observe that the way you carry yourself is key.
"Posture."
“I think feeling good in your skin, in your body. Being able to be free and lift your head up, open your shoulders, plant your feet — and that’s all it is.”
Embrace “balletcore” fashion. Take inspiration from the ballerina wardrobe — whether it’s the clean, simple attire dancers wear during rehearsals in the ballet studio, or the more romantic dresses worn on stage.
“Balletcore just comes naturally to us. I like feminine clothes that move well.”
“Go with something flowy.”
Wear a sleek updo. And it doesn’t have to be expensive; swooping your hair back into an elegant updo is an easy way to achieve the ballerina look.
“If you want to look like a ballerina, I think the easiest thing with fashion is with your hair: High pony, slicked back, put it in a tight little bun, and I think anyone can immediately look like a ballerina.”
“It’s always nice to have a clean, elegant look. Even having your hair in a low bun is a very dancer thing to do and can really elevate any look.”
How to work out like a ballerina
Build long, lean muscles. Ballet is more than an art — it also requires rigorous athleticism; and like any athlete, ballerinas hit the gym and use other forms of cross-training to complement their dance workout.
“I think the closest thing to ballet is Pilates and Gyrotonics. I kind of live by those two things. They build long, lengthy muscles.”
“It’s so much about body consciousness and activating your muscles. So you don’t have to work out very hard. You’re not supposed to be pumping iron, but muscular activation while doing short exercises is definitely what I would say to start to feel like ballet physique.”
“I go to the gym, I lift weights — not anything super heavy, but it’s nice to have those other outlets to supplement the dance, and it just helps you get longer and stronger.”
Try a ballet class. But if you want to work out like a true ballerina, nothing can beat doing the real thing; don’t be afraid to try a ballet class and use different muscles.
“You’re asking the wrong person … But if you want to look like a ballerina, take ballet classes. Actually do ballet, that’s what I would say. If you want to look like one, become one. Do it. That’s the healthiest way to go about it.”
“Go to workouts that use those muscles that you don’t know about, because that’s what we do. My husband took ballet class with me, and he discovered parts of his body he didn’t know.”
How to eat like a ballerina
Food is fuel. As New York City Ballet principal dancer Unity Phelan told me last Nutcracker season, regularly fueling up with nutritious foods is essential, and injuries can happen when you don’t have “a backlog of sustenance to pull from.” Contrary to popular belief, Justin Peck — a ballet dancer-turned-choreographer who was behind the dance moves used in blockbuster films like West Side Story and Maestro — says dancers rely on a “high-calorie diet.”
“People don’t realize how much energy it requires. So [eat] pasta, anything that burns off — almost like you’re running a marathon, because that’s going to fuel you. And nothing too spicy or weird, so simple. Some of those ballets that they dance, they’re like the Olympics, so they need fuel to do it.”
“Stretch, hydrate and hope for the best.”
How to get the ballerina vibe
Be strong. In a speech at the Fall Fashion Gala, Wendy Whelan, associate artistic director of New York City Ballet, shared a famous quote by George Balanchine, the founder of New York City Ballet and proverbial father of ballet in the U.S.: “Ballet is woman.” The ballet world has nevertheless grappled with its own #metoo moments; the women dancers themselves have often been voiceless subjects in male-managed ballet companies. But the dancers I spoke with said the modern ballerina is no longer silent. This year's Fall Fashion Gala was the first program in the company’s history to feature all female choreographers, and the dancers say being a ballerina in 2024 means being “assertive” and “strong.”
“A modern-day ballerina is assertive and speaks up for themself, while also bringing class and staying chic and being responsible with their bodies and their colleagues and people around them.”
“Don’t be afraid to be yourself, because that’s what we do on stage. We bring our own personality, and go for broke. If you feel like going flashy, do it.”
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