As a ballet dancer myself, it frustrates me to see that people don't understand the strength and discipline that goes into it. And what makes me EVEN more mad is the fact people believe that ballet is just for girls. It is for any gender that is interested in the sport
I agree. - but i Think it is idiocy that need transformation. - particular for the girls. They have ruined their feet and have to stop at age 30. - that is plainly stupid. - and there has to be another way to still be gracious.
@Camille Jackson A dance belt though is much 'denser' than a thong so the material is thicker and a bit stiffer. Though there are some dance belts that are made with a more 'thong' structure. But in my years of dancing as a teen and young adult when I was dancing for hours on end...good gawd yes taking off that dance belt at the end of the day was the most freeing thing.
Chelsey Abbott not quite. Remember what goes in there and how physically intense a day of ballet is. Imagine taking off your sneakers after an 8 hour hike: your socks and your feet are basically one. You have to peel off the sock and ... yeah breathe through your mouth. It’s a similar experience.
Steve Charters a physically challenging form of art. Physically challenging as in it is really tiring and it requires everything any other form of sport does. (Did that make sense? I don’t even know. But yea)
I must say, I’m a male ballet dancer and I agree with most of what your saying and I love the vid but I do think that in general there is a lack of male ballet dancers in the industry. I think that bullying is a really bad thing and mostly breaks characters rather than builds them. I know so many boys that quit ballet because of bullying and it’s a shame because ballet is an incredible sport that everyone should appreciate not bash.
I believe that the White Lodge, Royal Ballet School in London, now has more male students than female. There has been a surge in interest from boys. Male roles in recent years have been more prominent, largely due to the huge success of Carlos Acosta. Males no longer regard ballet as sissy! I would say that they are stronger than most athletes.
Xia Liu it is an almost entirely physical form of art that requires incredible discipline and years of hard training, demanding extraordinary willpower and passion and a mind that overpowers the bodily limits at times. It is certainly pure art, but it is both as competitive as professional sport and undoubtedly requires the same level of passion, training and sacrifice.
There should be no link between being gay and ballet. It makes it hard for ANY boy who wants to take up dance, whether they are straight or gay. For the straight boy, especially younger boys, where the taunt of ballet being "girly" or "sissy" is probably more their worry than it being "gay", but for the boy who is gay and attracted to dance, they may fear that them doing ballet will expose them as gay, and for some that is a great fear in a homophobic world. Also, it is hard because many boys will know that their dads and other mostly male relatives will not approve. Children, particularly boys want their dads to be proud of them.
I think it's because the assumption of someone else's sexuality, that is a bold statement that sometimes people say and that does not belong but to the dancer him/herself.
As a straight girl i find that boys doing any form of dance is very impressive. The athleticism and discipline required for dance seems to outweigh other sports in my opinion. In other words, my monkey brain is more inclined to be more impressed by a guy who dances than a guy who plays football (no hate footballers, maybe its just the footballers ive met)
I would toats dig a very pretty male ballet dancer to be my bf specially if they are Russian cus Russia is well known for their beautiful ballet dancing art forms,it's beautiful man!...I would toats like me a beautiful ballet boy for a boyfriend and he could teach me ballet!...
I notice that many girls are attracted to dancing, especially dancing boys + There are more disciplined sports than ballet, such as swimming, gymnastics, figure skating or any kind of skating, even on a board :)
@@sassymouth2056 nah lol the male football players had to do ballet classes to have better control so nah they all cried. I know a few ballet dancers who went to football none cried lol
Jocks don’t want to do ballet, but there are ballet dancers who couldn’t do what jocks do in a day too. It’s not all about whose fittest, being strong and tough plays it’s part , having endurance and stamina is important. Each to his own. Don’t you think?
i feel like ballet and figure skating are two of the hardest sports because you have to not only be extremely athletic and do these amazing sporty things, but also LOOK good while doing it! it’s a huge extra level of concentration and perfecting your performance. this video has inspired me to look into maybe doing ballet in the future :)
I agree but also competitive cheerleading is the same as well it’s very under appreciated and EXTREMELY difficult like the ones you’ve already mentioned
I feel like all of the sports that are done by performances and are ranked by judges are the hardest sports. Obviously sports like soccer basketball tennis and baseball all hard and all but nothing like other sports. Like dancing for one, and figure skating like you said and gymnastics and cheer and even diving lol
My father in law, who is going to be 90 years old later this month and having been the first non Russian ever to train at the Kirov made a lifetime career in ballet. He always said that not being gay meant he had a unique introduction to so many lovely women ballet dancers, needless to say including my mother in law, who was also a dancer! No, not all male ballet dancers are gay but it has always been a special profession for embracing gay people as professional equals, for which it deserves credit. Good luck with the new company. Huston was a good place to start. I saw them come through London's Saddler's Wells maybe ten years ago and their premier ballerina, a rather statuesque woman of color, was sensational!
I guess my son was extremely lucky in the fact he was never bullied, he was in a private boarding ballet/academic school, where his peers male and female were all doing the same, so bullying just didn't happen. He schooled from the age of 7 until 21 in his chosen ballet. Being an athlete is for sure needed in order to accomplish a professional career, you simply will not become a dancer without that ability, athletic injuries are just that, be it a ballet dancer or NHL skater, football player etc., they all suffer the same injuries, male & female. My son (non gay, maybe 1 in 5 at his school) after 14 years of hard schooling, was rewarded with a contract with a US Ballet company. 14 years to be a dancer, you must love it, because not many professional anything! requires that much training, or money to finance it. We love all ballet men, understanding that many were abused by ignorant persons, too uneducated and closed minded to respect what they do. Hope you don't mind the long message, I'm a very proud mum. Good luck with your career young man, you have obviously worked hard too. X
Anyone that’s ever actually looked at the body of a male ballet dancer or understands the strength required to jump that high should never question the strength needed to dance.
We tried cheer in school and it was soooo hard! My macho classmates that bragged about their strength couldn't even hold us up...it requires so much strength (and courage cause geee it was scary when we had to jump...and trust each other for the landing)
My straight guy friend: *does ballet* Random dude: G A Y Me, a girl: *in ballet* Same random dude: wanna go on a date? Me: nah I’m gay. ok so update, im not actually a girl, i am non binary... but imma just leave the comment to say girl....
I’m a gymnast and one day we were deciding whether football was harder than gymnastics. Then one girl said, “but we all have to agree that ballet is the most hardcore” Mad respect for anyone who does ballet seriously because the discipline is too much for me 😂
I am 63 and I was a ballet dancer growing up. I had to hide this from everyone at school. I was also a really good swimmer, that is, a really good athlete. In my day, men had it much easier in ballet because there was such bias against it. I never paid for a class during my training and I was able to get most gigs for performances. I am so glad that male ballet dancers are more accepted now. European male ballet dancers were even back then were more accepted. I agree that I am glad that I was subject to bullies then. I learned that bullies are simply cowards and always, always cracked when challenged. That helped me during my later life when dealing with bullies in other contexts.
I read the thumbnail before I saw the title so I fully thought this was going to be a philosophical video. I was ready to be like "yeah he has a point maybe everyone ~is~ gay" LMAO
After living in Europe for two years, is there a difference in how the general public views men and women in ballet as a profession there as opposed to the US? I’m a dancer in the US and find it’s always kind of awkward to explain that it’s actually my job to new people I meet because they usually don’t know that it can be a “real” job.
Omg thats so true! For me the question “are u still dancing?” Just hurts! Because WHAT DO U MEAN AM I STILL DANCING????! !!! Like yes I’m and yes I will become a professional so what do u mean!??,!!!!😂🤯🤬🤬🤬
I tell civilians (non-dancers) Dancing is not a job, it’s a disease. The people who get me will laugh. The ones who don’t walk away with a bewildered look on their face. S’all good.
Lol. That's kind of like asking if hip hop dancers or any other category dancers are all straight. Good luck on your graduation. Can't wait to see which company you join.
I did ballet when I was a kid and its difficult, people need to stop thinking just women do ballet. They're professionals, respect their work. Stop assuming their sexual preferences.
A professional male dancer really puts all other athletes to shame. Years ago, football players used to take ballet classes, not sure if they still do. Male and female ballet dancers rock! Nothing gives a beautiful body like ballet.
I had a male friend in my school class who did ballet with me and he didn't care what anyone said, he also did all of the "normal" boy things like soccer and stuff
Ballet is equal for everyone. A female can do masculine ballet and a male can do feminine ballet! It’s just like dancing, people, to do what you want, flow with the waves. Ballet is something magical, beautiful, and ballet is something that needs to be appreciated more, because it shows who you are, the beauty inside of you. It’s elegant, light and do not even try to bully a ballet dancer, they’re creating arts, not something funny like the hard trendy dancing these days.
That is a nice perspective to have but not really true. A ballerina can't lift up a danseuse as he jumps. A danseuse can't be as light and elegant as a ballerina. They have different roles and are suited to them. A male danseuse can't even stand on pointe for any length of time due to the weight. Not everything is equally possible for men and women, there are physiological differences between the genders that have to be acknowledged. If it were possible and equal then it would happen routinely in ballet not be an exception to make a political point.
@@@AdamNigelDark, that's why I responded on Mark Kiev, there was a dance act, where you could see male dancers on spitzen, I've seen that once, that was done long ago, that's why I took this as an example!
@@@dancerjayden1721, is it because you see the body of a dancer in a special way? Dance is ment to enjoy people, those who watch the performence and those who make it, the music with the rhythm gives the uppertunity to create something beautyfull. I think ballet is so much more than only sex related, it's a way of life it's art!
I took dance in high school and this girl who I'd never even met straight up asked me "are you gay?" which threw me for a loop because I'm NOT and hadn't even realized that stereotype was there :(
I’m a male figure skater but I really love ballet and learning about it. It’s really funny to see that the two sports have a lot of the same myths! XDD
@Orca, I did ballet for six years when I was 18/19 till I was 25, quit for several years and picked it up about 5 years ago, done it for 3 years, now I am 61 and my health did me stop a few months ago, but if you are fit enough, what keeps you down?
I did ballet for 4 years but I quited because I changed dance school . Now I am going to an audition for arts school in dance degree after 1 year lessons
I used to be a gymnast, and taking off our leotards after every competition was pretty much the equivalent of taking off a dance belt. The relief was so just satisfying
Being bullied should make anyone more determined and successful in life and you are proof of that and a good example to others who have been love the video and always much live and success to you.
I love watching the horror on boyfriend's faces when I explain actually what male dancers do and go through. Kudos to you lot, you're the ones who are supporting us on the lifts and getting us up there, while making it look seamless. The amount of times I've accidentally kicked my partner in the balls with my pointe shoes is infinite, yet he still keeps it together. As a ballet dancer, we appreciate you
So I’m a female ballet dancer and I was talking about ballet with one of my new guy friends and we started talking about sports I said I did cross country and ballet his response of course “BALLET ISNT A SPORT” I then tried to teach him some very basic ballet moves and he fell on his face yay I won and he bought me a coke to apologize so we all good😽
I think it depends on how you define the word 'sport'. If your definition of 'sport' is "a strenuous physical activity that people do that requires a lot of dedication and skill", then sure, ballet is a sport. If your definition of a sport is "a physical activity between two or more teams in which a score is kept to determine a winner", then ballet isn't a sport.
@@bryanpark8098 i wonder why ballet isn’t in the olympics. i mean figure skating is a sport, and it really just can be dubbed as ‘ballet on ice’ (ik it isn’t nearly the same thing but yk what i mean)
Rock on! It takes so much strength for ballet and being a male dancer in that world is even more so. Not saying being a female dancer is easier. But still you are awesome. Just wanted to say keep fallowing your dreams
I do ballet and I think ballet should be a national sport bcs like it uses alllll your muscles and strength in the body and worst part is .. we also need toooo make it look elegant👌 + we need more male ballet dancers....
I think this is a very Interesting topic and would love to hear more. I dont know how anyone could ever say that ballet is not athletic. Some people are so ignorant.
MALE DANCER CAN IMPROVE HIS PERFORMANCES IN MANY SPORTS; MARTIAL ARTS, FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, BOXING AND MORE. WITH STRONG LIMBS A MALE DANCER CAN SPEED THROW A FOOTBALL OR ABLE TO JUMP HIGH OVER FOOTBALL PLAYER AND SCORE A TOUCH DOWN. WITH AGILITY, HE IS ABLE TO MOVE FAST IN BOXING LIKE DODGING HITS OR SIDESTEP KICKS IN MARTIAL ARTS. WITH FLEXIBILITY HE CAN ESCAPE FROM PHYSICAL HOLDS LIKE WRESTLING AND MORE.
My brother does ballet and used to get bullied for it. I feel really bad for people who have to go through that just because of the sport they do. There is nothing wrong with ballet! It's beautiful! (I used to do ballet until like 1st grade but I stopped because I thought it was hard, I still regret that decision) Anyways, my brother's friends from ballet are really sweet and I don't know why everyone hates them so much!
I really really admire the craft of being a ballet dancer, you guys are just the embodiment of perfection. I've always been fascinated by all the movement and all the exquisiteness of ballet performance. Please never leave that beautiful art.
Oh an PS my friend started her own ballet school and wanted to attract more men, I told her to approach the football team and offer them a "beefy ballet for blokes" course and to do the first one free so she did and they did it "for a laugh" but it was so good and they felt like they got so much from it she paired up with the coach who made it compulsory to attend and basically paid her way through college on that alone plus she got interest from other men who now saw it as a sport rather than a "girl's thing" so that just shows you perception is everything! Ballet is a sport and it's harder because as Tristan said, you have to look good doing it! Could you imagine applying those rules to Rugby? lol!
Even though my boys don’t want to dance, they know my love for and background in ballet. I am teaching them how to appreciate the art form. I show them all my favorite dancers from Baryshnikov, to Acosta, to Stiefel and so on (soooooo many) when they are interested in learning.😄 I like to show them the athleticism and artistry of the male dancer. I love to inform people about ballet-I’m always amazed how little people understand the art. Well done informing people! You are a very level headed guy and thanks for sharing! Great video. 👍🏻
So I'm 15 and on this party GC and this guy said "sorry, I can't come, I have ballet". U realize that I have really awesome friends and they're super accepting but I was surprised that everyone was impressed and interested.
Everyone at my freaking school says “cheerleading isn’t a sport” yet when I easily do a backflip and amazing dance moves( I’m a male and I do cheerleading) during halftime and the game I’m “ really good at what I do” yeah plz just shut the hell up
Yes, I agree so much. I am a cheerleader and a boy in my grade literally got in a yelling fight with my class about how it isn't a sport and we do nothing.
Good job on your English! It would read more naturally to say “I dance ballet and I am a boy. You are an inspiration to me.” English is difficult, you’re doing great!
It's a comment on how successfully you hide the hard physical effort that ballet requires that makes people think it's not athletic! Grace and lightness come across...not sweat and struggle! Good for you!!!
No matter what subject you choose to talk about in your youtube videos, it's always entertaining, inspiring and overall pleasing. Keep posting because we love you Tristan 💗 we hope you get well soon xx
We, as a society, need to normalize boys and men taking dance in America. The amount of athletic ability needed to dance - ballet in particular - is astounding. Bravo to all the male dancers out there!!!
I love hearing about ballet dancers moving abroad to Germany or Russia for example. I think too many Americans stay in their own country and never get to see what it's like to live somewhere else. And boys shouldn't be bullied for dancing or anything else that's traditionally considered feminine!!!
I respect you all totally. Just How much they have to bear to get that personality, to be flexible, still and steady. These things really requires courage, commitment, dedication and hardwork. I have always liked Ballet and Ice skating. Cause they just look soo beautiful and worth watching to me ❤️❤️😍😍
Other sports you can get away with moving your muscles without intent at times. In ballet every movement has to be with intent. The added resistance means that even if a ballet dancer moves less than a running sokker player, a ballet dancer uses about the same or more energy and muscle power in less time.
I really do hope you realize your ballet related dreams, you are such an inspiring dancer and human being and you deserve all of the success you receive. Good luck for the future 💗
You should do a video of your dance journey! Like how did you made it to Germany, on that prestigious school, how do you maintain yourself, where are you living, etc. (btw I’m a dancer and I would love to know what is it like having those experiences) ❤️
When my daughter started volleyball, we had to adjust to a huge increase in needed calories. I would think with the extreme amount of ballet practice required, ballet dancers would need a lot of calories. What is reality?
Robert Shrewsbury hi! Im a ballet dancer, and it all depends on the country you are dancing. In Russia you have to be very skinny and tall sadly. Its very sad that to be a ballet dancer you have to have a specific body, or well that happens a lot on certain places. Even if you have a very thin body, you still have to be very strong and have good muscles otherwise you can fall and have injuries.
Hi, I'm a male ballet dancer training professionally in grade 12. I eat so much, I have to eat constantly. Far more than a normal teenager and all the other boys and girls I dance with eat a ton. But yes, many schools the girls have to stay very skinny so sometimes they struggle with food and that same with guys truthfully. Though men usually worry about being muscular more.
I have always admired male ballet dancers because they go through a lot and their determination is inspiring. Dancing is an art but also athletic. it takes great discipline to achieve both. I always wonder why people think that its feminine, dancing is an art no matter what the gender of the person is and it takes great strength to express your passion! Thank you for your dedication!
Great point about bullying building character. Almost every kid gets bullied at some point in childhood. You have great maturity to see it and build on it!
Would love another video! Curious to know can ballet level flexibility be achieved as an adult, or do you have to start out as a kid otherwise you can never be flexible enough? Any additional details about how flexibility is involved in ballet would be great
I find your description of the ballet world fascinating. When I was a kid, my aunt was a dance teacher, and so naturally I got roped into taking classes. My sister did the whole spectrum. They tried me on ballet, but it didn't take. I did do tap, though. I still remember at 80yo the steps, though I doubt I could do them anymore. So I understand the discipline.
Thank you for clearing up all of the misconceptions! As a male dancer myself, the things you talk about affect me every day, and I am grateful for your vulnerability and openness in discussing these issues.
I have a lot of respect for all the dancers, I just watch your videos about a typical day is for you and I’m tired! And I think ballet (or dance in general) is one of the hardest sports
My son is interested in ballet, I am encouraging him as I want him to do something that will keep him fit as I have seen that fitness is a habit that stays with kids for life. He can change his mind when he's older but for now he's enjoying ballet. We also live in Germany, we are also black and my black friends think I'm "turning him gay" and there aren't a lot of black ballet dancers for us to reference. Either way he's doing what he loves and that makes me happy.
good information to know about the ballet world. thanks for sharing your journey with us. good luck on finishing your training and joining a company ! ! ! ! !
Hats off to you for this great video!!! I'm an old ballet student. My teacher was a famous Russian professional dancer and I learned first hand about the world of ballet. It has always annoyed me the ingorence of common people about ballet so this is truly refreshing and informative. I love ballet😄. Keep up the good work and good luck with your career!!!
Great video! I'm absolutely not your target audience, but as a ballet teacher I think it is really important to have a young male voice out there. Our male dancers work so, so hard and are absolutely amazing.
I loved your video, especially when you mentioned eating disorders! A documentary called "Dying to be thin," addresses that issue because of the pressure to be thin and the fierce competition to achieve within a limited number of years. I appreciate the candidness to share about your body dysmorphia issues! Had you not said it, NEVER would have guessed!!! Best wishes for a very happy life and a wonderful career!!!
It is interesting you spent time in Houston. I was glad to hear that. You are close to graduating too. You are on your was Tristan. Watch what the world shows you. I thank you for explaining the ratio of gay to straight dancers and knocking down stereotypes and explaining the clothing and why it is significant. I like that you explained your experience and how you pursued your choices.
My 3 year old son is in love with dance and ballet. He already takes direction so well and he's super graceful and focused 😳 if he became a professional ballet dancer me and his dad would be front row of EVERY performance. Beyond proud!!! Congratulations on your commitment and amazing skill ♥️
I can't believe how people don't see the athleticism needed for ballet. To me it's obvious how much it takes to do ballet.
O T U oml yes I am a pointe dancer and people are like it’s not a sport. Excuse you shall we compare calf muscles
For me too!! They are strong as hell!! And it needs so so much effort and discipline!
As a ballet dancer myself, it frustrates me to see that people don't understand the strength and discipline that goes into it. And what makes me EVEN more mad is the fact people believe that ballet is just for girls. It is for any gender that is
interested in the sport
Pointe dancers deserve so much more respect. Everytime someone pulls that argument i just show them pointe videos
I agree. - but i Think it is idiocy that need transformation. - particular for the girls. They have ruined their feet and have to stop at age 30. - that is plainly stupid. - and there has to be another way to still be gracious.
My ex boyfriend is a professional ballet dancer & he's straight.
Painter's brush 16 imagine if he was not
@@biazinhablogueirinha1553 I wouldn't care, I broke up with him years ago! 😂
Maybe that’s why he’s ur ex... HAHHA SORRY IM JK
@@emmablevins4688 he could be bi
emma blevins OMG I WAS JUST ABOUT TO COMMENT THAT 😂😂😂😂😂
So taking off a dance belt is the equivalent of taking off a bra
The best feeling of the day
By the amount of likes I can tell the majority of this audience is probably woman 😂😂
@Camille Jackson A dance belt though is much 'denser' than a thong so the material is thicker and a bit stiffer. Though there are some dance belts that are made with a more 'thong' structure. But in my years of dancing as a teen and young adult when I was dancing for hours on end...good gawd yes taking off that dance belt at the end of the day was the most freeing thing.
accurate!
Chelsey Abbott not quite. Remember what goes in there and how physically intense a day of ballet is. Imagine taking off your sneakers after an 8 hour hike: your socks and your feet are basically one. You have to peel off the sock and ... yeah breathe through your mouth. It’s a similar experience.
Who ever said that ballet isnt athletic???😂 i feel like its one of the hardest sports
I totally agree🙌🏻
An art, rather than a sport?
Steve Charters a physically challenging form of art. Physically challenging as in it is really tiring and it requires everything any other form of sport does. (Did that make sense? I don’t even know. But yea)
Niall Alexander also very true!
My sister is a ballet dancer and it’s honestly just as competitive as any other sport, and it’s honestly just as physically demanding, too
I must say, I’m a male ballet dancer and I agree with most of what your saying and I love the vid but I do think that in general there is a lack of male ballet dancers in the industry. I think that bullying is a really bad thing and mostly breaks characters rather than builds them. I know so many boys that quit ballet because of bullying and it’s a shame because ballet is an incredible sport that everyone should appreciate not bash.
Finn 👏👏👏👏
I believe that the White Lodge, Royal Ballet School in London, now has more male students than female. There has been a surge in interest from boys. Male roles in recent years have been more prominent, largely due to the huge success of Carlos Acosta. Males no longer regard ballet as sissy! I would say that they are stronger than most athletes.
I don’t think of ballet as a sport , it is more of art to me
I am a male that does ballet as well. :)
Xia Liu it is an almost entirely physical form of art that requires incredible discipline and years of hard training, demanding extraordinary willpower and passion and a mind that overpowers the bodily limits at times. It is certainly pure art, but it is both as competitive as professional sport and undoubtedly requires the same level of passion, training and sacrifice.
Honestly I find it annoying how a lot of people find all male dancers gay or assume that their gay. it’s annoying
there is nothing wrong being gay or straight. Why are you annoyed?
Omg I’m not against it at all I’m just saying people assume all male dancers are gay/bi
There should be no link between being gay and ballet. It makes it hard for ANY boy who wants to take up dance, whether they are straight or gay. For the straight boy, especially younger boys, where the taunt of ballet being "girly" or "sissy" is probably more their worry than it being "gay", but for the boy who is gay and attracted to dance, they may fear that them doing ballet will expose them as gay, and for some that is a great fear in a homophobic world.
Also, it is hard because many boys will know that their dads and other mostly male relatives will not approve. Children, particularly boys want their dads to be proud of them.
I think it's because the assumption of someone else's sexuality, that is a bold statement that sometimes people say and that does not belong but to the dancer him/herself.
@@japaris75 It is annoying if a person thinks that a straight male doing ballet is a gay.
As a straight girl i find that boys doing any form of dance is very impressive. The athleticism and discipline required for dance seems to outweigh other sports in my opinion.
In other words, my monkey brain is more inclined to be more impressed by a guy who dances than a guy who plays football (no hate footballers, maybe its just the footballers ive met)
Oops this was for Tristen.
I would toats dig a very pretty male ballet dancer to be my bf specially if they are Russian cus Russia is well known for their beautiful ballet dancing art forms,it's beautiful man!...I would toats like me a beautiful ballet boy for a boyfriend and he could teach me ballet!...
Well, some birds are more attracted to the best dancers. Plenty of animals dance to impress potential mates
that is pure bullshit. At a bar, you would most likely be attracted to an alpha football player than a feminine ballet dancer.
I notice that many girls are attracted to dancing, especially dancing boys + There are more disciplined sports than ballet, such as swimming, gymnastics, figure skating or any kind of skating, even on a board :)
Most jocks would cry if they had to do what male ballet dancers do every day. The muscle control is brutal.
And most ballet dancers would cry if they had to play football. Two can play at this game. Sweetie 😉
Thank you!! Preach!! I am a female dancer and most of my guy friends left the studio due to bullying! It stinks!! Stay strong💚🖤
@@sassymouth2056 nah lol the male football players had to do ballet classes to have better control so nah they all cried. I know a few ballet dancers who went to football none cried lol
@@sassymouth2056 nah they wouldn’t
Jocks don’t want to do ballet, but there are ballet dancers who couldn’t do what jocks do in a day too. It’s not all about whose fittest, being strong and tough plays it’s part , having endurance and stamina is important. Each to his own. Don’t you think?
honestly as a ballet dancer i can safely say BALLET BOYS ARE HOT and cooper nielsen from centre stage is amazing
i feel like ballet and figure skating are two of the hardest sports because you have to not only be extremely athletic and do these amazing sporty things, but also LOOK good while doing it! it’s a huge extra level of concentration and perfecting your performance. this video has inspired me to look into maybe doing ballet in the future :)
I agree but also competitive cheerleading is the same as well it’s very under appreciated and EXTREMELY difficult like the ones you’ve already mentioned
Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Acrobatics as well
Dance generaly
I feel like all of the sports that are done by performances and are ranked by judges are the hardest sports. Obviously sports like soccer basketball tennis and baseball all hard and all but nothing like other sports. Like dancing for one, and figure skating like you said and gymnastics and cheer and even diving lol
I wish I could be a figure skater
His shirt really brings out his eyes. Also this aesthetic is everything
My father in law, who is going to be 90 years old later this month and having been the first non Russian ever to train at the Kirov made a lifetime career in ballet. He always said that not being gay meant he had a unique introduction to so many lovely women ballet dancers, needless to say including my mother in law, who was also a dancer! No, not all male ballet dancers are gay but it has always been a special profession for embracing gay people as professional equals, for which it deserves credit.
Good luck with the new company. Huston was a good place to start. I saw them come through London's Saddler's Wells maybe ten years ago and their premier ballerina, a rather statuesque woman of color, was sensational!
I guess my son was extremely lucky in the fact he was never bullied, he was in a private boarding ballet/academic school, where his peers male and female were all doing the same, so bullying just didn't happen. He schooled from the age of 7 until 21 in his chosen ballet. Being an athlete is for sure needed in order to accomplish a professional career, you simply will not become a dancer without that ability, athletic injuries are just that, be it a ballet dancer or NHL skater, football player etc., they all suffer the same injuries, male & female.
My son (non gay, maybe 1 in 5 at his school) after 14 years of hard schooling, was rewarded with a contract with a US Ballet company. 14 years to be a dancer, you must love it, because not many professional anything! requires that much training, or money to finance it.
We love all ballet men, understanding that many were abused by ignorant persons, too uneducated and closed minded to respect what they do. Hope you don't mind the long message, I'm a very proud mum. Good luck with your career young man, you have obviously worked hard too. X
Denise falusi maybe he didn’t tell you that he was bullied
Fabi at his school EVERYONE practiced ballet, so it would be none-sense if someone who practises ballet as well bullies him for doing so.
I don't know what to say so um your a good mom
Anyone that’s ever actually looked at the body of a male ballet dancer or understands the strength required to jump that high should never question the strength needed to dance.
in cheer often people think all guys that do it are gay and that it isn’t a “sPoRT” but it is actually pretty hard :/
S H O O K I mean at my school cheer is actual stunting and flips, and like competitions too.
We tried cheer in school and it was soooo hard! My macho classmates that bragged about their strength couldn't even hold us up...it requires so much strength (and courage cause geee it was scary when we had to jump...and trust each other for the landing)
Yes as a dancer I have great respect for cheerleaders and I know it is a verrrrry hard sport that u have to put lots of work into
yes!!! i can say as a cheerleader - it’s really annoying when people say that it’s not at sport😒
I just think of Phil Dunphy from Modern Family when I think of cheer now 😂😂
My straight guy friend: *does ballet*
Random dude: G A Y
Me, a girl: *in ballet*
Same random dude: wanna go on a date?
Me: nah I’m gay.
ok so update, im not actually a girl, i am non binary... but imma just leave the comment to say girl....
Hahahaaha
Savage
Your username tho😂😂😂
Hahahahaha
its not a phase mom 😂
I’m a gymnast and one day we were deciding whether football was harder than gymnastics. Then one girl said, “but we all have to agree that ballet is the most hardcore” Mad respect for anyone who does ballet seriously because the discipline is too much for me 😂
"Susi" is short for "Suspensorium" which is the term used in German for what English speakers call a jockstrap (or dance belt)
That's good to know. Never heard that word before.
omg i didnt know ur studying at john cranko !! so fancy 😙😙
:) I love your channel! I came across this video, but I didn't expect to see a comment from you! lol
@@maryg411 same lol
HII
Tristan and you are my biggest inspiration ❤️
I am 63 and I was a ballet dancer growing up. I had to hide this from everyone at school. I was also a really good swimmer, that is, a really good athlete. In my day, men had it much easier in ballet because there was such bias against it. I never paid for a class during my training and I was able to get most gigs for performances. I am so glad that male ballet dancers are more accepted now. European male ballet dancers were even back then were more accepted. I agree that I am glad that I was subject to bullies then. I learned that bullies are simply cowards and always, always cracked when challenged. That helped me during my later life when dealing with bullies in other contexts.
I read the thumbnail before I saw the title so I fully thought this was going to be a philosophical video. I was ready to be like "yeah he has a point maybe everyone ~is~ gay" LMAO
Same
i'm dying nfnfjfjf
sameee i was like ok...
Same loool
After living in Europe for two years, is there a difference in how the general public views men and women in ballet as a profession there as opposed to the US? I’m a dancer in the US and find it’s always kind of awkward to explain that it’s actually my job to new people I meet because they usually don’t know that it can be a “real” job.
Marina Turner yes! I will bring this up in a future video❤️
Tristan Simpson okidoki I’m waiting for this
Omg thats so true! For me the question “are u still dancing?” Just hurts! Because WHAT DO U MEAN AM I STILL DANCING????! !!! Like yes I’m and yes I will become a professional so what do u mean!??,!!!!😂🤯🤬🤬🤬
I tell civilians (non-dancers) Dancing is not a job, it’s a disease. The people who get me will laugh. The ones who don’t walk away with a bewildered look on their face. S’all good.
RAH my sister (a physiotherapist) told me that literally NO other profession f***s your joints up as reliably as ballet.
so no ones gonna talk about how Call Me by Your Name is chilling on his shelf up above
Fiona Lemon 😂😂
Didn't notice that. I loved that film. Is every guy who likes that film gay? Tristan did not say he is not gay.
Lol. That's kind of like asking if hip hop dancers or any other category dancers are all straight. Good luck on your graduation. Can't wait to see which company you join.
I did ballet when I was a kid and its difficult, people need to stop thinking just women do ballet. They're professionals, respect their work. Stop assuming their sexual preferences.
A professional male dancer really puts all other athletes to shame. Years ago, football players used to take ballet classes, not sure if they still do.
Male and female ballet dancers rock! Nothing gives a beautiful body like ballet.
I had a male friend in my school class who did ballet with me and he didn't care what anyone said, he also did all of the "normal" boy things like soccer and stuff
Ballet is equal for everyone. A female can do masculine ballet and a male can do feminine ballet! It’s just like dancing, people, to do what you want, flow with the waves. Ballet is something magical, beautiful, and ballet is something that needs to be appreciated more, because it shows who you are, the beauty inside of you. It’s elegant, light and do not even try to bully a ballet dancer, they’re creating arts, not something funny like the hard trendy dancing these days.
It's rare to see male dancers on spitzen, man are not build for that!
That is a nice perspective to have but not really true. A ballerina can't lift up a danseuse as he jumps. A danseuse can't be as light and elegant as a ballerina. They have different roles and are suited to them. A male danseuse can't even stand on pointe for any length of time due to the weight. Not everything is equally possible for men and women, there are physiological differences between the genders that have to be acknowledged. If it were possible and equal then it would happen routinely in ballet not be an exception to make a political point.
@@@AdamNigelDark, that's why I responded on Mark Kiev, there was a dance act, where you could see male dancers on spitzen, I've seen that once, that was done long ago, that's why I took this as an example!
Wish it was that way but ballet isn’t equal
@@@dancerjayden1721, is it because you see the body of a dancer in a special way?
Dance is ment to enjoy people, those who watch the performence and those who make it, the music with the rhythm gives the uppertunity to create something beautyfull.
I think ballet is so much more than only sex related, it's a way of life it's art!
I’m so confused as to why people think that boys who do ballet are gay...it’s literally a form of dance! Humans really annoy me!
I took dance in high school and this girl who I'd never even met straight up asked me "are you gay?" which threw me for a loop because I'm NOT and hadn't even realized that stereotype was there :(
Agree you not human?
The Fakey Cake Maker ahaha. I also annoy myself ✌️🙃
Same thing with male figure skaters. For some reason, people believe males who figure skate are gay.
Cause a lot of them are gay....
Congratulations in advance for graduation and your future company. Also learned some stuff about ballet so thank you for that.
Mathieu Andrieux thanks!!!
i love how u explain everything
I’m a male figure skater but I really love ballet and learning about it. It’s really funny to see that the two sports have a lot of the same myths! XDD
I did ballet for years as a kid and stopped doing it bc bullying and I wish I never quit
Can you go back to it? I'm going to a beginner's class tomorrow after a few years not going to any classes. Hope you can enjoy it again :)
@Orca, I did ballet for six years when I was 18/19 till I was 25, quit for several years and picked it up about 5 years ago, done it for 3 years, now I am 61 and my health did me stop a few months ago, but if you are fit enough, what keeps you down?
@@mimidp2649 I quit like 12 years ago so it's hard to get back. I'm also definitely not flexible anymore
nivilleren I am 15 and I wanted to start ballet but my family told me it was too late
I did ballet for 4 years but I quited because I changed dance school . Now I am going to an audition for arts school in dance degree after 1 year lessons
I used to be a gymnast, and taking off our leotards after every competition was pretty much the equivalent of taking off a dance belt. The relief was so just satisfying
Being bullied should make anyone more determined and successful in life and you are proof of that and a good example to others who have been love the video and always much live and success to you.
I love watching the horror on boyfriend's faces when I explain actually what male dancers do and go through. Kudos to you lot, you're the ones who are supporting us on the lifts and getting us up there, while making it look seamless. The amount of times I've accidentally kicked my partner in the balls with my pointe shoes is infinite, yet he still keeps it together. As a ballet dancer, we appreciate you
So I’m a female ballet dancer and I was talking about ballet with one of my new guy friends and we started talking about sports I said I did cross country and ballet his response of course “BALLET ISNT A SPORT” I then tried to teach him some very basic ballet moves and he fell on his face yay I won and he bought me a coke to apologize so we all good😽
I think it depends on how you define the word 'sport'. If your definition of 'sport' is "a strenuous physical activity that people do that requires a lot of dedication and skill", then sure, ballet is a sport. If your definition of a sport is "a physical activity between two or more teams in which a score is kept to determine a winner", then ballet isn't a sport.
@@bryanpark8098 i wonder why ballet isn’t in the olympics. i mean figure skating is a sport, and it really just can be dubbed as ‘ballet on ice’ (ik it isn’t nearly the same thing but yk what i mean)
I wish u talked more about how ballet is challenging emotionally, and how the ballet community totally pretends this is not an issue.
Rock on! It takes so much strength for ballet and being a male dancer in that world is even more so. Not saying being a female dancer is easier. But still you are awesome. Just wanted to say keep fallowing your dreams
im a ballet dancer myself and every thing he said was a hundred percent true and i really enjoyed watching this video
Do you lose weight easily on ballet? (I'm a washboard and a lame vegetable so I can't dance)
I do ballet and I think ballet should be a national sport bcs like it uses alllll your muscles and strength in the body and worst part is .. we also need toooo make it look elegant👌 + we need more male ballet dancers....
I think this is a very Interesting topic and would love to hear more. I dont know how anyone could ever say that ballet is not athletic. Some people are so ignorant.
I saw you at the open rehearsal dancing Spanish dance like two weeks ago - it was great, you were so good :)
Soph omg hahaha thanks
MALE DANCER CAN IMPROVE HIS PERFORMANCES IN MANY SPORTS; MARTIAL ARTS, FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, BOXING AND MORE. WITH STRONG LIMBS A MALE DANCER CAN SPEED THROW A FOOTBALL OR ABLE TO JUMP HIGH OVER FOOTBALL PLAYER AND SCORE A TOUCH DOWN. WITH AGILITY, HE IS ABLE TO MOVE FAST IN BOXING LIKE DODGING HITS OR SIDESTEP KICKS IN MARTIAL ARTS. WITH FLEXIBILITY HE CAN ESCAPE FROM PHYSICAL HOLDS LIKE WRESTLING AND MORE.
that moment when you say "im gonna show you what we wear" and not "im gonna model you what we wear" 💔😭
This was very informative. I can’t believe people think that it is not athletic
My brother does ballet and used to get bullied for it. I feel really bad for people who have to go through that just because of the sport they do. There is nothing wrong with ballet! It's beautiful! (I used to do ballet until like 1st grade but I stopped because I thought it was hard, I still regret that decision) Anyways, my brother's friends from ballet are really sweet and I don't know why everyone hates them so much!
I really really admire the craft of being a ballet dancer, you guys are just the embodiment of perfection. I've always been fascinated by all the movement and all the exquisiteness of ballet performance. Please never leave that beautiful art.
I think the only thing your channel is missing are videos of you actually dancing. I think that would be awesome!
Oh an PS my friend started her own ballet school and wanted to attract more men, I told her to approach the football team and offer them a "beefy ballet for blokes" course and to do the first one free so she did and they did it "for a laugh" but it was so good and they felt like they got so much from it she paired up with the coach who made it compulsory to attend and basically paid her way through college on that alone plus she got interest from other men who now saw it as a sport rather than a "girl's thing" so that just shows you perception is everything! Ballet is a sport and it's harder because as Tristan said, you have to look good doing it! Could you imagine applying those rules to Rugby? lol!
“If you don’t wear this, everything will be moving inside...” lol
I have had an injury from leaping without one
ballet is such a gorgeous sport, i applaud you for sticking through with it despite all of the negativity you've received in the past :)
RamblingRenée ❤️
You are my FAVORITE human being on this earth. UR SO PURE😩😩
Brysen Bryant ❤️❤️
Even though my boys don’t want to dance, they know my love for and background in ballet. I am teaching them how to appreciate the art form. I show them all my favorite dancers from Baryshnikov, to Acosta, to Stiefel and so on (soooooo many) when they are interested in learning.😄 I like to show them the athleticism and artistry of the male dancer. I love to inform people about ballet-I’m always amazed how little people understand the art. Well done informing people! You are a very level headed guy and thanks for sharing! Great video. 👍🏻
So I'm 15 and on this party GC and this guy said "sorry, I can't come, I have ballet". U realize that I have really awesome friends and they're super accepting but I was surprised that everyone was impressed and interested.
this is so interesting!!! the voices of male dancers tend to get lost in the dance world
Everyone at my freaking school says “cheerleading isn’t a sport” yet when I easily do a backflip and amazing dance moves( I’m a male and I do cheerleading) during halftime and the game I’m “ really good at what I do” yeah plz just shut the hell up
Yes, I agree so much. I am a cheerleader and a boy in my grade literally got in a yelling fight with my class about how it isn't a sport and we do nothing.
I’m in England and have always loved to watch male ballet dancers, I think they look incredibly beautiful and artistic
Tristan.Your videos are never too long.It’s a pleasure watch you talking about your life.Live you from Brazil.
Guys dancing ballet is the most manly thing ever lets be real, anyone who has the balls to do such a hard sport is awesome af
Its not manly to us sane guys
I dans ballett an i am a boy. You ar en legend for me
BLAZER TACTIC so your French...
Is French your first language?
No its norwegian. I am from norway
Good job on your English! It would read more naturally to say “I dance ballet and I am a boy. You are an inspiration to me.” English is difficult, you’re doing great!
H D Englisch is in no way difficult 😂
It's a comment on how successfully you hide the hard physical effort that ballet requires that makes people think it's not athletic! Grace and lightness come across...not sweat and struggle! Good for you!!!
thank you!
No matter what subject you choose to talk about in your youtube videos, it's always entertaining, inspiring and overall pleasing. Keep posting because we love you Tristan 💗 we hope you get well soon xx
We, as a society, need to normalize boys and men taking dance in America. The amount of athletic ability needed to dance - ballet in particular - is astounding. Bravo to all the male dancers out there!!!
I love hearing about ballet dancers moving abroad to Germany or Russia for example. I think too many Americans stay in their own country and never get to see what it's like to live somewhere else.
And boys shouldn't be bullied for dancing or anything else that's traditionally considered feminine!!!
Thanks for posting. I have a male ballet dancer son and its great to educate people on what its like for male ballet dancers
So what you’re saying is that dance belts make you look like a Ken doll...
I respect you all totally. Just How much they have to bear to get that personality, to be flexible, still and steady. These things really requires courage, commitment, dedication and hardwork. I have always liked Ballet and Ice skating. Cause they just look soo beautiful and worth watching to me ❤️❤️😍😍
Thank you Tristan. Wonderful video debunking the myths surrounding the dancing world. I wish you the best in your career. 🙏❤️
I spent so many years going to the gym, but I'll never forget my days practicing ballet.
God! Was one of the hardest exercises I have ever done
A dance belt is like a male bra. It is padded, makes the lines clean, keeps stuff in place, feels good when taken off.
Other sports you can get away with moving your muscles without intent at times. In ballet every movement has to be with intent. The added resistance means that even if a ballet dancer moves less than a running sokker player, a ballet dancer uses about the same or more energy and muscle power in less time.
I had a boyfriend who was a ballet dancer. He is straight
I really do hope you realize your ballet related dreams, you are such an inspiring dancer and human being and you deserve all of the success you receive. Good luck for the future 💗
Today’s episode of: why was this in my recommended
Boredom Reliever same 🤔🤔
Exactly!
Maybe you could think of taking up ballet - at least you wouldn't be bored.
You should do a video of your dance journey! Like how did you made it to Germany, on that prestigious school, how do you maintain yourself, where are you living, etc. (btw I’m a dancer and I would love to know what is it like having those experiences) ❤️
When my daughter started volleyball, we had to adjust to a huge increase in needed calories. I would think with the extreme amount of ballet practice required, ballet dancers would need a lot of calories. What is reality?
Robert Shrewsbury hi! Im a ballet dancer, and it all depends on the country you are dancing. In Russia you have to be very skinny and tall sadly. Its very sad that to be a ballet dancer you have to have a specific body, or well that happens a lot on certain places. Even if you have a very thin body, you still have to be very strong and have good muscles otherwise you can fall and have injuries.
Girl yes you HAVE to eat. You maintain the weight by exercising.
I ate A LOT when I did ballet, the work is so hard that not eating would make u faint haha
Hi, I'm a male ballet dancer training professionally in grade 12. I eat so much, I have to eat constantly. Far more than a normal teenager and all the other boys and girls I dance with eat a ton. But yes, many schools the girls have to stay very skinny so sometimes they struggle with food and that same with guys truthfully. Though men usually worry about being muscular more.
I have always admired male ballet dancers because they go through a lot and their determination is inspiring. Dancing is an art but also athletic. it takes great discipline to achieve both. I always wonder why people think that its feminine, dancing is an art no matter what the gender of the person is and it takes great strength to express your passion! Thank you for your dedication!
I'm not even a guy, I don't even do ballet, yet youtube recommends this??? I watched the video anyways, it never hurts to learn a little
haha thanks!
Great point about bullying building character. Almost every kid gets bullied at some point in childhood. You have great maturity to see it and build on it!
Would love another video! Curious to know can ballet level flexibility be achieved as an adult, or do you have to start out as a kid otherwise you can never be flexible enough? Any additional details about how flexibility is involved in ballet would be great
I find your description of the ballet world fascinating. When I was a kid, my aunt was a dance teacher, and so naturally I got roped into taking classes. My sister did the whole spectrum. They tried me on ballet, but it didn't take. I did do tap, though. I still remember at 80yo the steps, though I doubt I could do them anymore. So I understand the discipline.
Why I have a feeling like you’re applying for Houston ballet 😃 well we might see Rhys or Harpers in your channel one day (finger crossed)
Thank you for clearing up all of the misconceptions! As a male dancer myself, the things you talk about affect me every day, and I am grateful for your vulnerability and openness in discussing these issues.
I dance ballet and I love your channel, kisses from Brazil 🇧🇷
I have a lot of respect for all the dancers, I just watch your videos about a typical day is for you and I’m tired! And I think ballet (or dance in general) is one of the hardest sports
Nobody:
Every UA-camr ever: i'M SiCk
My son is interested in ballet, I am encouraging him as I want him to do something that will keep him fit as I have seen that fitness is a habit that stays with kids for life. He can change his mind when he's older but for now he's enjoying ballet. We also live in Germany, we are also black and my black friends think I'm "turning him gay" and there aren't a lot of black ballet dancers for us to reference. Either way he's doing what he loves and that makes me happy.
good information to know about the ballet world. thanks for sharing your journey with us. good luck on finishing your training and joining a company ! ! ! ! !
Hats off to you for this great video!!! I'm an old ballet student. My teacher was a famous Russian professional dancer and I learned first hand about the world of ballet. It has always annoyed me the ingorence of common people about ballet so this is truly refreshing and informative. I love ballet😄. Keep up the good work and good luck with your career!!!
omg I am from Stuttgart germany. And love dancing ballet one of my friends also goes to the John cranko school.AHHHH this is literally so cool. :)
Great video! I'm absolutely not your target audience, but as a ballet teacher I think it is really important to have a young male voice out there. Our male dancers work so, so hard and are absolutely amazing.
I loved your video, especially when you mentioned eating disorders! A documentary called "Dying to be thin," addresses that issue because of the pressure to be thin and the fierce competition to achieve within a limited number of years. I appreciate the candidness to share about your body dysmorphia issues! Had you not said it, NEVER would have guessed!!! Best wishes for a very happy life and a wonderful career!!!
It is interesting you spent time in Houston. I was glad to hear that. You are close to graduating too. You are on your was Tristan. Watch what the world shows you. I thank you for explaining the ratio of gay to straight dancers and knocking down stereotypes and explaining the clothing and why it is significant. I like that you explained your experience and how you pursued your choices.
Definitely agree with male ballet dancers and masculinity- look at Carlos Acosta and so many of the other top guys!
My 3 year old son is in love with dance and ballet. He already takes direction so well and he's super graceful and focused 😳 if he became a professional ballet dancer me and his dad would be front row of EVERY performance. Beyond proud!!! Congratulations on your commitment and amazing skill ♥️
Looking forward to hearing what company you will be dancing with so hopefully I can come and watch.
As a ballet dancer I have a lot of respect fo male ballet dancers they are probably the nicest people I have ever met so ty
I really want to get anyone who says ballet is easy to take a class and just watch them struggle
Solid, grounded, well stated, open, and professional. One your best videos regards of format. Do the follow up please.