You already know that ballet training demands a body that is in good health. That’s why you’re always striving to take care of yourself with smart nutrition, proper hydration, extra conditioning, and adequate sleep. Those are, of course, the most obvious ways you might set yourself up for successful training, but your intensive studies in ballet also demand something else; something that is often underestimated and taken for granted: You need great vision.
Putting your best body forward in your training means that your eyes need to see clearly and without obstruction at all times, which is no easy task if you are a dancer who needs corrective lenses!
Glasses are a much-needed aid for a majority of the population (over 60% of us by many reports). So why are they such an obstacle in ballet training? Well, there are a few reasons:
Safety
The biggest risk with wearing glasses during classes, rehearsals, or performances is that they are not secure and can fly off your face without warning, endangering yourself (because you can’t see!) or others (who can get hit by them). Especially as you sweat, your glasses are less and less likely to stay put, and the last thing you want to be doing is fidgeting with them in front of your coach! Glasses, of course, can also break and are expensive to replace.
Aesthetics
You might protest that it’s possible to secure your glasses with a flexible, adjustable strap … and that might work well for other athletic activities. But for ballet training, glasses simply don’t fit within the aesthetic expectations of clean lines and no distractions. The glare, too, can affect your sight in the classroom or on the stage, disrupting your continuity of movement and focus. Under the bright stage lights, glasses can become a true hindrance to your performance.
Peripheral Vision
With so many versatile movements of the head required in ballet training, your peripheral vision is key to developing your technique and quality of movement—and it’s nearly impossible to have clear peripheral vision while dancing with glasses on. Whether it’s the delicate shift of your épaulement or the sharp spotting needed for a double pirouette, your peripheral vision makes it possible to move freely.
Luckily glasses aren’t the only way to achieve great vision! Contact lenses are an excellent alternative, a visual aid worn by many professional dancers and recommended by ballet coaches around the world. Don’t let your glasses hold back your potential; strengthen your training with the best vision you can achieve, with no restrictions!