Parents How much does ballet help gymnastics training?

[InMyGymMomEra]

Hi all, how many of your kiddos have taken ballet as part of their gymnastics journey? Did it help their gymnastics, and if so how? Alternatively, were there any body shapes or habits they learned from ballet that didn’t translate to gymnastics or even got in the way? Fall registration has just opened for my daughter’s ballet studio, and I’m weighing whether it makes sense for her to re-enroll or drop ballet. As a former dancer myself I love the idea of her getting additional encouragement for extending her legs & pointing her feet (!!!), but maybe she’ll get enough of that in gymnastics itself? For context, she’s only 5yo and still in rec, so it’s probably not a big deal either way, though I have noticed her ballet teacher increasingly having to re-direct her from doing cartwheels/roundoffs & flipping on the bar while all the other little ballerinas are actually paying attention… Put another way, would she be better off just replacing the ballet with another hour of gymnastics if her goal is ultimately to make team? Thanks!!

 

[Gymgirl84]

I was a dancer (at a recreational level, just extracurricular classes at school) for like 2-3 years before I started gymnastics, and I think it helped a lot with my gymnastics, my form was always good, flexibility and artistry too. I still did ballet for 2 years into my gymnastics "career" (was a late starter, at 12 yo, competed from 15 yo until my 20s, I was mostly at a gold-platinum-like level).
I struggled a little bit because I was a little "archy" but I figured out just fine after some time.
I did love ballet, if your girl is not very interested maybe it is not worth it.

 

[Pineapple_Lump]

It's absolutely beneficial... but she is only 5 - if she doesn't really enjoy it, the benefits for a five year old who doesn't really want to be there are minimal at best.

 

[3rd_time_around]

It helps a lot. My oldest gymnast started in ballet at age 4. At age 6 I let her take a gymnastics class, and just watching the class I noticed that she was generally better than the others (seriously, I wasn't being THAT mom). Anyway, after class the coach came to me and asked if she had ever done gymnastics before? I told her no, but she had been taking ballet since age 4. The coach said that she could tell, because she automatically pointed her toes without being told, and had generally good form.

My current gymnast didn't take ballet until after level 1, when I thought she just looked awkward and stiff during her floor and beam routines. She was 6 when she took her first ballet class. I could tell a big difference in level 2 where she was more graceful, better lines, better balance, and more confident. She continues taking ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary even today, and it shows in her floor and beam routine.

 

[coachsades]

I think a really strong gymnastics program (more likely competitive gymnastics, less see in rec programs) will integrate ballet training.

Every week, my athletes go through Barre training and artistry work. With my many years in ballet and gymnastics, it is insanely important for learning proper form and technique in turns, jumps, and leaps.

If your young daughter enjoys ballet, keep her in it. It will help her gymnastics training. And if she ever reaches the point to be invited to the competition team, she would probably have enough ballet training to lay off of it for some time.

 

[SupportingHerDreams]

I think ballet, good technical ballet training does help with gymnastics. My 11yr old currently does 1.5 hours of ballet a week and I see it helping her gymnastics greatly.
But, as others have said, I'm not sure that a 5yr old that doesn't want to be in a ballet class would get enough out of it to make it worth it.

 

[HurricaneLR]

My daughter's coach said that ballet is great, and any dance classes are helpful except for acro, because the moves are different in dance vs gymnastics. We also have a dance coach who comes to the gym every couple of weeks to work with the girls. You can really see the difference on floor and even beam between those who have taken dance and those who haven't. So if she likes it and can pay attention, keep going! If not, wait a few years, and she can try again if she wants. She's so young that you will be fine either way.

 

[GymDadWA]

I don't know how much it helps score wise but watching competitions especially at the higher levels the more entertaining routines are the ones where the dance portion is performed well.

 

[NZGYMNAST0704]

It definitely helps, but at her age if she doesn't enjoy it, it isn't worth it. I did ballet from when I was 3-6 and it did help. When I was 6 I got invited to New Zealand's Steps program which integrates ballet, so I decided to drop it as I wasn't enjoying it anyway. It shows in my beam even today but only ever helped my floor in Step 1 to 4 where I had slow music, now in Step 6 my chosen music is very upbeat and fast so it doesn't help anymore.

 

[Dahlialover]

Since we are talking about a 5-year-old, it really doesn’t matter whether ballet is helpful for gymnastics or not. What matters is whether your child is having fun.