There is more to ballet dancing than just grace and elegance as CHS seniors Annabel Torres and Sarah Shea demonstrate. Both Torres and Shea have spent most of their time since eighth grade, learning the art of ballet. Ballet requires countless years of practice to learn and master as well as to retain proficiency. Ballet is taught in schools established all around the world whether it be a college, an art studio, or a community studio. It has slowly evolved based on the culture of the area it is being taught in.

Ballet first originated in the Italian Renaissance era as a type of performance dance to entertain the nobility during lavish events, such as wedding ceremonies, but later developed into a form of concert dance in Russia and France. Ever since its creation, ballet has been globally influential to the development of techniques found in other forms of ballet dances. It has also opened dancers’ eyes to beauty and hard work in a sport.

“Ballet is another form of art and a sport to me,” Torres said. “It is a lot harder to learn than it looks, but with the truth in its difficulties, doing ballet helped me see the world and life in a different perspective as I got to learn more about it every time I practice.”

She practiced around 10 hours a week when she first began ballet to master her performances. Torres began to take her hard work up a notch during her freshman year of high school when she attended a summer ballet program in New York City called Teri Dance. With an occupied schedule in high school, Torres currently practices about four to five hours a week at the Inland Pacific Ballet studio in Montclair. Her ambitions for her future and love of ballet includes attending Barnard College in the fall where she plans to double major in chemistry and dance.

Like Torres, Shea was also introduced to the world of ballet during eighth grade. She currently practices at the Village Dance Art studio in Claremont three times a week. Similar to Torres’ passion for ballet, Shea views ballet as a great outlet for emotional distress. Shea hopes to keep dancing throughout her entire life, hoping never to have to stop dancing as it brings enjoyment in her life.

“Ballet has definitely helped me become more disciplined in life,” Shea said. “I really enjoy and love dancing because it gives me a moment from thinking about everything.”

Although ballet has been a type of art and a dancing form for over hundreds of years, students at CHS are still passing down the gift for this beautiful work of art. As exemplified by Shea and Torres, the beauty of ballet was never forgotten and continues to spread throughout the world. As elegant as it was during the Italian Renaissance era, ballet is an undying symbol of art in the world of dance.