There's a good reason why Titanic's Rose couldn't stay on her toes longer than she did. It's damn hard! Those pink silk shoes hide black nails, swollen wounds, and deformed toes. It takes much more than 8 wiki steps to become a swan.
Today is Ballet Day, so Bored Panda compiled a list featuring ballet dancers to admire their strength and grace.
While there is no record of the inaugural Ballet Day celebration, there are two explanations why it's celebrated on February 7. Ballet was introduced to the United States on February 7, 1827 at the Bowery Theatre. Also, February 7, 1668 was the day when the Dutch Prince William III danced in the premiere of the “Ballet of Peace.”
Are you a ballet dancer yourself? Share your experience in the comments, or upload your pics to the list!
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My Granddaughter, in picture, took 14 years of ballet and has the toes and bunions to prove it. Those shoes are cement in the toes and the covering on their toes is a thin gel layer. They are true athletes and graceful ones!
Nothing worth doing is glamerous - hard work is key to sucsess :D
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Ballet is a special Beauty all on its own. So graceful and such beautiful masterworks. It's one of my favorite arts. I never really stopped to think how much of a toll it takes on the dancers. Much respect to them.
Ballet...classic or contemporary...it's the art of expressing beyond words...beautiful powerful and intriging...sweet&bitter memories...dancing is such a great part of my life...of me! These photo serie touched me right in the soul...it captures almost every emotion a true dancer can feel
After dancing for 19 years my toenails still don't grow normal. . Totally worth it
I think these photos look exaggerated. Not because ballet dancer's toes aren't like this, or sometimes even worse, but because they emphasise their ugliness. When I see my fellow dancer's feet, I rarely feel like it's an ugly view. I see their strenght and the marks of their arches. And most of those tapes aren't even to cover bruises, but to protect feet from getting many (at least that's what we do).
They truly pay the price for their art.. And make it look effortless..:
Why judge the lengths someone goes to for love, beauty, peace and strength, we all have our own path. It was all worth it and at 45 to still be able to feel some of what I felt then in ballet classes- totally worth it!
When my toes looked like this and my body to match, I felt like I was on top of the world. Strength inside and out!
I remember when my feet looked like that and what my body looked like then, I felt I was on top of the world. It may look bad but as a dancer it is all part of the job and the art we love. Strength in and out!!!
After dancing 19 years my toe nails still don't grow normal.. worth it though
And I complain about my hammer toes. I should be ashamed. (But I'm not.)
I don't understand why anyone would do this to themselves for any reason have fun walking when your 60. Yuck. Not worth it
You are a horrible person, why would you say a thing like this? I think you're just mad because you would suck at ballet. I curse you with bad luck when you're 60
Load More Replies... I don't understand why anyone would do this to themselves for any reason. Not worth it. Have fun walking when your 60. Yuck
Because ballet is a passion, and people (including me) will go to great lengths to preserve that passion.
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I remember these days. I danced for 13 years....I loved it, but my feet have paid the price.
I once wore holes straight through the box of mine....... concrete is not a good dancing surface, but it the only way to pirouette in the rain !!!!!
hey Debbie, is your last name Downer? Because you're kind of being one.
If this was a drawing, I would say the figure is not realistic. Mesmerizing photo and posture.
It is a beautiful but I can't help but think of the pain involved with their love. So stunning. :)
Does Debbie leave any comments that aren't negative?? If you don't like the art and beauty that is ballet, then why are you still viewing this post?? Mom always said, if you can't say something nice......
She seems a little young for pointe. I did ballet for many years and my legs weren't deemed strong enough for this until I was about 12, which was the usual age in my ballet school.
Respect to all the dancers out their who push their bodies to the limit and perform with such grace and strength. Amazing what they can do.
That Debbie girl should probably quit commenting. Somehow she manages to cover every article she voices her opinion on in a thick layer of s**t. (Also, if you're reading this, Debbie darling, NO ONE is entitled to their opinion. Complete fallacy.)
I only see one comment from "Debbie" and it is far from "s**t". Nor do I see any reason for your negative view of her. What is sauce etc... "NO ONE is entitled to their opinion. Complete fallacy." Applies to you too, Richard Diser.
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Even tho dancers beat their bodies up something fierce to us its worth it u dont even realize it at the time cuz u love what u do so much u would do it all over again if u had the chance i know i would to move and tell emotions or stories thru dance is our art just like any other artist out there
Great to see ballet recognised for the powerful art form that is. Great too to see dancers these days being admired for their strength.
These are really powerful photos which can give me a large strength to face to life. Thx a lot. Cheap-Huma...Wigs-1.jpg 
Beautiful photos of strong graceful athletes. Some male ballet dancers in the original photos would also have been nice.
I love ballet and dance. These photos only made me appreciate it so much more. Thank you.
.impressive. beautiful. inspiring. HAPPY BALLET day to all these great people.
Thank you for the beautiful portrayal of these dancers; from the youngest to the most senior they all have a breathtaking talent. I think they are wonderful.
I love the photos, but I do not like the title. Artists do art because the art demands to be expressed and for the joy of doing it, not for attention or applause.
Agreed. I had a 30 year dance career and it was never once about applause. I find the title offensive. Thanks for your comment.
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Never did find ballet appealing anyway...I find it strange seeing people on their toes.....makes no sense. The dancers must have a strong masochistic streak in them.
I trained as a ballet dancer for 12 years. I am 57 years old and my body went back to the non dancer body WITHOUT any permanent damage at all. It taught me about discipline, commitment, creativity and athleticism like no other. To this day, I still use what I learned in ballet, in other forms of creativity, and I take care of my body better than when I danced. Everything one does has a pro and con aspect. What I learned as a dancer has been a plus.
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Think you miss the point, I doubt for the dancers it is all about entertaining others
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Respect to all the dancers out their who push their bodies to the limit and perform with such grace and strength. Amazing what they can do.
That Debbie girl should probably quit commenting. Somehow she manages to cover every article she voices her opinion on in a thick layer of s**t. (Also, if you're reading this, Debbie darling, NO ONE is entitled to their opinion. Complete fallacy.)
I only see one comment from "Debbie" and it is far from "s**t". Nor do I see any reason for your negative view of her. What is sauce etc... "NO ONE is entitled to their opinion. Complete fallacy." Applies to you too, Richard Diser.
Load More Replies... Even tho dancers beat their bodies up something fierce to us its worth it u dont even realize it at the time cuz u love what u do so much u would do it all over again if u had the chance i know i would to move and tell emotions or stories thru dance is our art just like any other artist out there
Great to see ballet recognised for the powerful art form that is. Great too to see dancers these days being admired for their strength.
These are really powerful photos which can give me a large strength to face to life. Thx a lot. Cheap-Huma...Wigs-1.jpg
Beautiful photos of strong graceful athletes. Some male ballet dancers in the original photos would also have been nice.
I love ballet and dance. These photos only made me appreciate it so much more. Thank you.
.impressive. beautiful. inspiring. HAPPY BALLET day to all these great people.
Thank you for the beautiful portrayal of these dancers; from the youngest to the most senior they all have a breathtaking talent. I think they are wonderful.
I love the photos, but I do not like the title. Artists do art because the art demands to be expressed and for the joy of doing it, not for attention or applause.
Agreed. I had a 30 year dance career and it was never once about applause. I find the title offensive. Thanks for your comment.
Load More Replies... Never did find ballet appealing anyway...I find it strange seeing people on their toes.....makes no sense. The dancers must have a strong masochistic streak in them.
I trained as a ballet dancer for 12 years. I am 57 years old and my body went back to the non dancer body WITHOUT any permanent damage at all. It taught me about discipline, commitment, creativity and athleticism like no other. To this day, I still use what I learned in ballet, in other forms of creativity, and I take care of my body better than when I danced. Everything one does has a pro and con aspect. What I learned as a dancer has been a plus.
Load More Replies... Think you miss the point, I doubt for the dancers it is all about entertaining others
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