BALLET | 'bala | 1.- an artistic dance form performed to music using precise and highly formalized set steps and gestures. Classical ballet, which originated in Renaissance Italy and established its present form during the 19th century, is characterized by light, graceful, fluid movements and the use of pointe shoes.

// 2. tiny dancer -according to independent.co.uk by Lesley O'Toole- Mr Ryan Gosling started taking classes at an early age.

Ryan Gosling: "I was literally raised by my mother and my sister. And I just feel like I wouldn't know how to think any other way. My sister was my best friend and my hero growing up. Because I was home-schooled I didn't have a lot of friends and I did ballet, which was always just girls. All of that had an effect on my brain." On the right, Mr Gosling practising his very own Fifth Position. Dramatization, may not have happened ...



// 3. the edge dance studio -according to eonline- In July 2011, always well intentioned Ted Casabanca wrote "our peeping source caught Ryan at The Edge Dance Studio off of Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, apparently leaving a ballet class!

The dude wasn't doing the tutu thing, natch, but was sporting a black V-neck tank and was clean-shaven as he stopped to watch a hip-hop class.

In typical Ry fashion, our source says he was a nice and down-to-earth sweetheart, chatting with fans who came up to him and looked so gorgeous. No surprises there!


Now, we knew he was taking classes for his "posture" (pssh), but that was, like, months ago. That means the guy is either taking more ballet for an upcoming movie (which we hear is true), or he's just fallen in love with the glitz and glamour of grand jetes and pirouettes (which we so wish was truer). Wonder which it is"


// 4. compelled to dance Someone said ballet dancers they practice and practice their posture until it becomes second nature. Back in 1980, Alan Parker directed the movie "Fame", where students were taught that fame cost sweat. Practising is the key, and that's what our favorite hipster do to have that inner swag in his bones.

Ryan Gosling: -according to independent.co.uk by Lesley O'Toole- "I practise whenever I can. A lot of the students are young girls so they're there with their mums but they just kind of watch and tell me to keep it up. They try and be positive but I'm so bad. I don't even know what I like about it, but it's like acting, I'm just compelled to do it and I do it to find out why. The not knowing is interesting."

 

 

In between Blue Valentine takes, Mr Gosling could have developed a brand new style of expressive contemporary dance combining elements like cardboard boxes with lyrical and classical ballet, a whole new discipline …

// 5. unflexible like a Playmobil click -according Jimmy Kimmel Show-

Kimmel: "You've been taking ballet lessons I hear"
Ryan Gosling: "Alright"
Kimmel: "Why have you been taking ballet lessons? Is there a sequel of the Black Swan you are in we don't know about?"
Ryan Gosling: "Nope ... I have no good reasons to be taking ballet lessons"
Kimmel: "Who are you taking them from?"
Ryan Gosling: "It's like a public class ..."
Kimmel: "Who's in it?"
Ryan Gosling: "A lotta people who are gooder than me. Everybody's good except for me"
Kimmel: "Are there any children in the class"
Ryan Gosling: "There's kids. There's these two ... I'm so bad at it, that I have to ... I'm so unflexible I have to bring up a special barre for doing the bar work, part of the class, it's a tiny barre, it goes in the middle of the class and I can barely put my leg on it and there's two seven year old girls who sit next to me and do the barre work and they just look at me like they hate me, and they think that I'm just cheapening the whole ... thing by being there. Theyre like your old, your not good and I've seen your movies and it's weird that you are here, why are you here?



Tips to Gain Flexibility -courtesy of David from balletformen.com- Ballet for Men is a blog dedicated to providing information for men who want to dance. If you are a beginner, trying to find out about mens baller classes, or a seasoned veteran trying to advance your partnering skills or develop a great appreciation of baller, that is the best resource you will find!. These tips below, have been extracted from the blog. To read the whole article, please click here.

Below, Gosling once again in his Fifth Position.

It isn't about age, but use: People don't get less flexible because they get old. They get less flexible because they get old and stop moving. This is a big difference. Sure, as you get older your body doesn't repair as fast, but it doesn't shut down either. You may gain your splits slower, but it is not impossible.

The splits are possible for the average person: A lot of people believe that some body types can't be flexible. For example, when I was reading about getting the splits, I saw a lot of discussions on martial arts forums where people said that they heard African American people aren't as flexible because their muscles are more dense. There is not drastic body difference like this. The biggest differences would be between male and female, and with flexibility, the differences are minute. It may be more easy for some people, but it is possible over time and work for everyone.

The Splits Test: Michael Kurz, author of Stretching Scientifically (2003) gives a test to see if you will physically be able to do the splits. Part one is to do a deep lunge. If you can get your thighs in a straight line, that means your hip joints and ligaments don't prevent you from the front splits. Part two is for the side splits. Put your leg out to the side and rest it on the back of a chair or on a table, about hip height. If you can get your hip and standing leg in line, it is possible for you to get the side splits (try both sides).

Stronger muscles stretch more: The stronger you get your muscles, the more they'll stretch. This was really helpful for me. I started using the abducter and adducter machines at the gym, and my flexibility sky rocketed. If a muscle is stronger, it will stretch further before tightening up. Weaker muscles will tighten up much earlier than a stronger muscle.

 

There are different types of stretching: Ideas behind stretching have come so far since I was in school (wow I sound old). There has been a lot of research on stretching, and there are probably more ways to do it wrong than right.

i.- Static stretching (holding a stretched position for a long period of time) can be tiring for your muscles and not the best to start off with. Basically, I save it until after my class or workout.

ii.- Dynamic stretching (stretching in movement) is better for warming up. These are stretches that combine movement and flexibility. Leg swings or arm swings are an example of dynamic stretching. These will warm you up for movement (before class), but can be not as good if your muscles are tired.

Stretching is a process: It takes time. Do a little every day. Stretch a little in the morning, after your workout, before bed. Fit it into your routine. Don't push it too fast. Work but don't strain.