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60 Ballet-Inspired Names That’ll Make You Want to Twirl
Picture the scene: a spotlight strikes the stage, and beneath it shines a prima ballerina in all their glory. The orchestra sings as one dancer turns to two, then three, then four. In what feels like seconds, the sight before you becomes the perfect symphony of pliés, passés and pirouettes—all tied together with winning smiles and a standing ovation. That, fellow dance enthusiasts, is the beauty of ballet. And there’s no better way to help baby embody the traits of a seasoned performer than with these stylish ballerina names. ... Ballet is an art, but what many may not know is that it’s actually been around for centuries. Like the works of da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo, it dates back to the Italian Renaissance and began as a form of court entertainment. It wasn’t until the marriage of Henry II and Italian aristocrat Catherine de Médicis that the dance became a lively tradition in French palaces (hence, the French terminology!). Now everything there is to love about ballet is the world’s to enjoy, with a host of famous productions that have shaped the art—and sport—into what it is today, like Giselle, The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. So many kids dream of putting on their pointe shoes and owning the spotlight. With the right ballet-inspired name, baby can get a head start on finding their rhythm and flow. Whether you’ve got a favorite ballet, are inspired by the names of ballerinas or just love the “balletcore” aesthetic, you’ll definitely want to give this list a whirl!
60 Ballet-Inspired Names That’ll Make You Want to Twirl
How ballet builds strong athletes
Looking for some hardcore cross-training? Why not give ballet a try? As long as ballet has been around, it’s been known to be physically and mentally challenging—dancing en pointe is certainly no walk in the park. It’s no wonder athletes in sports like American football have used the dance to improve their speed, endurance and flexibility. One NFL star to introduce ballet to their fitness routine was Steve McLendon, who started classes to strengthen his knees, ankles and feet. Lynn Swann from the Pittsburgh Steelers became known as the “Baryshnikov of Football” for his agility on the field—the reward for years of classical dance training. Turns out there’s so much more to practicing your pliés than you think!
Did you know?
A single tutu can take very, very long to make—from 80 to 100 hours. Tutus were first introduced in the 1830s by Marie Taglioni, the daughter of ballet legend Filippo Taglioni; they were designed with 12 layers (or more) of net skirt, embroidered and sequined to the nines. The tutus you see today are much shorter than they were in the Romantic era, but they nonetheless take time and focus to complete—not to mention ultra-precise measurements for the best wear and feel on stage. To put things into perspective, a ballet like The Sleeping Beauty would need about 150 tutus. If you do the math, we’re not just talking days of sewing, but weeks—maybe even months!
