6 Unique Ballerina Secrets That Might Seem Truly Wild to Outsiders

Behind the flawless elegance of ballet lies a world most audiences never see. While ballerinas appear weightless onstage, their lives are shaped by relentless training, discipline, and dedication. Along the way, they’ve perfected more than choreography — they’ve mastered self-care. Their routines help them stay energized, balanced, and strong, and these practices can benefit anyone, even those who’ve never stepped into a studio.

Not being afraid of your period

Training is very important for ballerinas, and periods are no reason to skip them. Some dancers admit that they consider dancing during menstruation not as a challenge, but as an opportunity to get rid of cramps. Exercises are good for this.

In addition, ballerinas really trust tampons because they save them from leaking even during active training, but in extreme cases, ballerinas can stick a pad directly to the tights during periods.

Lifehack for healthy feet: roll a ball

For dancers, feet are one of the most important “working tools,” and their health is crucial for training and rehearsals, as well as for overall well-being. Professional ballerina Emily Strickland shared her foot care lifehacks: how to relieve tension and combat overload. Many people also feel very tired and uncomfortable at the end of the day.

What do ballet dancers do after a lot of training when their legs cramp up? It’s simple: they carry a regular tennis ball in their bag. It is enough to put the foot on the ball and gently roll it on the floor. It’s best to do this exercise standing.

A foot roller or any other small hard ball will be suitable for this exercise. The harder the ball, the deeper it works the muscles. This is not only pleasant, but also incredibly useful — this massage helps to prevent the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles. Try it and your feet will thank you!

Using simple makeup life hacks

Dancers have a simple secret of neat lip makeup.

In order to get rid of lipstick on your teeth, you need to put your finger in your mouth after applying it, so the excess will remain on your finger and nothing will get on your teeth.

Applying essential oil to your legs

Emily Strickland also advises to actively use essential oils. Not only do they smell nice, but they also help to relax your feet and bring back a sense of lightness! A few drops can be added to your bath or used when massaging your feet.

Lavender and chamomile oils are a great choice when you want to release your feet from accumulated tension, while peppermint oil relieves sore feet.

Treating food as fuel

We have often heard the myth that ballet dancers starve themselves to keep in shape, but modern dancers don’t sit on diets and don’t see food as their main enemy. Yes, they look after their health and nutrition and try to eat foods rich in nutrients, because food is fuel.

During a long rehearsal or performance, it can be quite hard to find time to sit down and eat properly, so a dancer always has a healthy snack on hand. Many of them may occasionally snack on a chocolate bar, have a slice of pizza or even a burger.

And they eat apples before a workout to increase stamina. The natural sweetener in these fruits enters the bloodstream, keeping sugar levels constant and providing dancers with energy.

Some ballet dancers place pads inside their pointe shoes.

To keep their pointe shoes from slipping off during performances, some dancers sew on extra elastic. And if that still doesn’t do the trick, they resort to taping the shoes in place — though this usually ruins the leotard.

When dancers were asked on social media how they protect their toes, many shared that they pack various materials into the tips of their shoes. Some even admitted to using sanitary pads for extra cushioning.

Other ballerinas go even further, using bubble wrap or even pieces of raw meat to pad the toes of their shoes. Of course, after that kind of “treatment,” the pointe shoes usually end up in the trash — and the smell is unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.

Be sure to explore our other article featuring wild myths about ballet that you’ve only believed because of movies.