Gymnastics and ballet are both physical activities that require balance, flexibility and stability. They also focus heavily on coordination and executing specific moves while exercising grace and artistry. Despite having several similarities, ballet and gymnastics vary in terms of purpose, pay rate and types of performances.
Gymnastics is a physically demanding activity that requires the use of strength, flexibility and coordination during performances that involve various tricks and stunts. Common stunts include flips, splits, leaps and kicks. Similarly, ballet is also a demanding activity requiring flexibility and agility to perform including splits, leaps and kicks. However, its common to view gymnastics as a sport while many interpret ballet to be an art. Doing ballet involves fluid movements set to music to tell stories such as "The Nutcracker" and "Swan Lake."
Types of Movement
Gymnastics and ballet both have varying types of the activity. Gymnastics includes several apparatuses such as pommel horse, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and acrobatic. Mats, rings, bars and streamers are used to perform the many types of gymnastics. Ballet includes the practice of classical ballet, theatrical ballet and contemporary ballet. Classical ballet is known to be traditional and adheres to strict technique. Contemporary ballet combines principals of classical ballet and modern dance. Regardless of the type of ballet, dancers tend to be more graceful with fluid movements in comparison with gymnasts. Also, practice for ballet mostly revolves around use of the barre, which is handrail used for balance during practice sessions.
Differences in Athletic Build
The ability to turn out the hips and extend legs in various directions is crucial to ballet performances. Therefore, those who do ballet usually have strong legs. Though ballet dancers must hold their arms in various positions, their upper-body strength usually isn't quite as impressive. However, male ballet dancers need to have superior upper-body strength in order to lift their female dance partners. Even though gymnasts do similar moves to ballet dancers such as leaps and splits, their focus tends to be in building upper-body strength. Because gymnasts are often found supporting their weight on their hands, it is important they demonstrate stamina and balance in their arms, back and chest. Gymnasts execute tricks during beam and floor routines and strong leg muscles are also needed.
Performance Opportunities and Salary
Gymnasts and ballet dancers practice their skills year-round, yet performance opportunities are only a few times a year. Competitions give gymnasts the opportunity to show off their ability solely while doing vault, beam and uneven bar routines. Gymnasts have the opportunity to perform every four years as a team or individually during the Summer Olympics in which they prepare for long periods of time without pay. Although a gymnast's pay may be limited, they may have the opportunity to get endorsement deals should they perform well during competitions or earn gold medals at the Olympics, such as London Games all-around gold-medalist Gabby Douglas of the United States. Depending on the company they belong to, ballet dancers have the chance to perform many times a year during solos or major productions. Although dancers do get paid, their salaries can be limited, ranging between $200 and $800 a week depending on their role in the company. Many professional dancers supplement their income by taking on side jobs as ballet teachers.
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