BALLET TECHNIQUES: A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO CULTIVATING THE BALLETIC BODY THROUGH HABITUS FORMATION Ballet Techniques: A Practical Approach to Cultivating the Balletic Body Through Habitus Formation

Abstract

This article is part of the thesis “Ballet Technique: The Process of Embodying the Nature of a Balletic Body". The study aimed to explore practical approaches to cultivating the Balletic Body through Habitus formation. A qualitative research methodology was employed, drawing on academic literature on ballet techniques, the Balletic Body, and Habitus, as well as narrative interviews with three key informants, each with more than 30 years of experience in the ballet Field. All data were analyzed using analytic induction.

The findings revealed that cultivating the Balletic Body through Habitus formation consists of three interconnected dimensions: (1) Cultural Habitus, which fosters the internalization of ballet culture, aesthetics, courtly traditions, and cultural identity; (2) Practising Habitus, which develops an understanding of ballet-oriented ways of thinking, training methods, and discipline in bodily control; and (3) Stage Presence Habitus, which cultivates perceptual awareness, communication, emotional expression, and charisma. Furthermore, the findings indicate that these three dimensions contribute to the formation of learners’ personality and everyday life Habitus. The knowledge generated from this study can be applied to curriculum and instructional design, the development of training exercises, and specialized coaching practices to promote holistic learner development in terms of technique, aesthetics, and artistic expression.