In 2016, when the Philadelphia Eagles’ season came to a crushing early ending, many Philly fans were immensely disheartened. In particular, one commented on Facebook that the team “played like they were wearing tutus.” While this comment amused some people, the ballet community didn’t find it to be so funny. Jonathan Stiles, the marketing manager for the PA ballet, commented, “With all due respect to the Eagles, let’s take a minute to admire what our tutu-wearing women have done this month.” Back then, the PA ballet had performed the Nutcracker 27 times in 21 days without any “second string” or “injury timeouts,” an incredibly impressive feat.

Their perseverance and reliability showcased with this Nutcracker performance illustrates the hard work, both physical and mental, these ballerinas undergo every single day. They practice for a minimum of 6-8 hours per day starting out with about a 2-hour barre class, where they work on perfecting small details in their technique and strengthening their essential small muscles. Then, in center, they usually focus on pirouettes, turns, and petit/grand allegro (i.e. small and big jumps). Following this long, structured ballet class, many dancers typically endure a 2-3 hour long rehearsal to learn new choreography or practice for upcoming shows. 

Thus, as a way to further criticize the misconceptions present in the Eagles fans making these comments, Stiles’s statement finished with a playful comeback by saying, “so no, the Eagles did not play like they were wearing tutus. If they had, Chip Kelly would still be head coach and we’d all be looking forward to the playoffs.” 

This rebuttal from the PA ballet had many football fans questioning their views on the dance community. As a dancer in a pre-professional program, I too want to combat the stereotype that dancers are delicate, fragile, and weak. One question that has continuously sparked debate is “Are ballet dancers athletes?” Defined by Merriam Webster, an athlete is a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility or stamina. A study conducted at the University of Hertfordshire found that the overall fitness of Royal Ballet dancers greatly surpassed that of Olympic swimmers. The ballerinas scored higher in 7 of the 10 athletic tests performed, which included strength, balance, endurance, and flexibility. This is most likely because through their dancing and practice, ballerinas develop fast and slow-twitch muscles that aid in the type of movements needed to execute steps with different speeds. For instance, a dancer needs endurance and strength to hold her leg in arabesque for an extended period of time but also needs to use her vivacious energy and power to execute a long jump series later in the routine. Although it is obvious that ballet is an incredibly technical art form, due to the physical requirements needed for it, it can also be concluded that ballerinas are in fact athletes. 

Similar to the rigorous physical demands of ballet, an equally essential component in dance is mental tenacity. From personal experience, I have learned that dedication and persistence are required for a steady improvement in technique. Many dancers may have to attend extra classes or spend more time at home stretching their splits. In addition, many dancers withstand a plethora of rejections when auditioning for summer programs or shows. When faced with this rejection and disappointment, the ability to “hang in there” and remain resilient is what sets the most talented dancers apart from their peers. 

So, Jonathan Stiles’s comment didn’t just put an insensitive football fan in their place; it also served as an opportunity to teach other uninformed football fans about the world of ballet and the strength and determination that it requires. Maybe if the Philadelphia Eagles added some ballet classes to their training process, then they would gain the agility, flexibility, and endurance that would ultimately win them their next Superbowl title!

Sources

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081022073916.htm

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2016/01/04/pennsylvania-ballet-shames-eagles-on-facebook/