The height requirements of dancers are really designated by the ballet companies hiring. With this height range weight is ideally anywhere between about 85 and 130 lbs and depends heavily on muscle and bone mass. Health practitioners use bmi to estimate body fat and possible health risk related to weight. These weight ranges put a person at a healthy body mass index or bmi. Photo by cory jones courtesy pnb. Most ballerinas are between about 5 foot 3 inches and 5 foot 8 inches tall.
Ballet companys version of nutcracker was the relatively more athletic spanish costumed dancer in her slightly burlesque or harem outfit. It would seem to me that the more modern forms of ballet would favor athletic stronger body types. One of the first dancers to set a standard body ideal for a ballet dancer was marie camargo in the 18th century. A healthy bmi is between 185 and 249. Male performers are naturally taller stronger and heavier. Because it is common for dance companies to select dancers who are generally the same size shape and height to create a uniform look on stage this led to increasingly more short dancers.
Body types do change in ballet. Their height is also important. The body mass index is equal to your weight in kilograms divided by your height in meters squared. Most ballet companys average height for a female is approximately 167cm. A woman should be between 5 foot 2 and 5 foot 8 to have the ideal body type for ballet. With this height range weight is ideally anywhere between about 85 and 130 lbs and depends heavily on muscle and bone mass.
In reality the ideal physique for a female classical dancer is slim with a long neck a shortish to medium length torso long legs with complimentary long arms and high insteps. The ideal weight for a 174cm 57ft tall girl is 498kg 1098lb the ideal weight for a 168cm 55ft tall girl is 457kg 100lb the ideal weight for a 155cm 5ft tall girl is 37kg 815lb weight fluctuation allowed for girls over 170cm 55ft tall. As suzanne farrell became balanchines muse suddenly longer legs shorter torsos long necks and small heads became the aesthetic all the way through to the youngest 8 year olds auditioning for the school of american ballet. In many performances a ballerina has to be lifted by another performer. Men and women should both be on the light side with some women of the ideal type weighing as little as 90 lbs. Most ballerinas are between about 5 foot 3 inches and 5 foot 8 inches tall.
As david king points out its a big ballet world out there. Artistic director pacific northwest ballet. The ideal height ranging from 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 8 inches. Consider her curves if shes a woman. Personally my favorite ballerina in the la. Ideally a ballet dancer should have a small bust and posterior with a somewhat masculine but elegant build.
She was very popular and also quite short.
Gallery of Ideal Ballerina Body Height And Weight
