Ballet & Identity Project
A famous child psychoanalyst Erik Erikson’s quote reads: “In the social jungle of human existence, there is no feeling of being alive without a sense of identity.”
Ballet & Identity project is about identity formation through an education in the principles underlying the art and science of classical ballet. A subject only available to an elite and privileged few, we are closely working with the project creator to adapt this knowledge into a educational system that can reach many. We are creating programs that teach principles that develop core strength, confidence, unlock creativity, and empower our ability to succeed in our chosen field through the mecca of culture, science and arts collectively represented in classical ballet.
It’s made me… the woman that I am today…
Misty Copeland makes history as the first African American Female Principal Dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre.
Misty shares:
I feel like the artform of ballet filled in years of gap where I feel like I wasn’t maturing… It’s made me… the woman that I am today… The person, everything. To be as empathetic as I am, as sympathetic, to be as strong, to be as intelligent, to be as open, to be as loving and caring. I don’t think I could have become all of those things without classical ballet.
Identity
The process through which individuals develop their sense of self, is also known as their identity. It’s a lifelong journey, particularly prominent during adolescence where individuals explore and define their beliefs, values, and roles in life. Identity formation is a process of self-discovery that shapes how individuals understand themselves and their place in the world.
A healthy identity implies the following:
- A strong sense of self
- Self-awareness
- An understanding of strengths and weaknesses
- Healthy boundaries
- Self-confidence
- A growth mindset
- Emotional resilience (how easily we can bounce back from challenges)
- High interdependence (lack of needing to seek external validation)
A famous child psychoanalyst, Erik Erikson believed that our personality develops in stages and that at each stage, we face a crisis. By resolving it, we develop psychological strengths that help us become confident and healthy people. Ericson believed that:
At the age, 6-11 children need to cope with new social and academic demands. Success leads to a sense of competence, while failure results in feelings of inferiority.
During the adolescence years (12-18) kids explore their independence and develop a sense of self and personal identity. Successful navigation leads to a strong sense of self, while failure can result in role confusion. Those experiencing identity confusion do not have a clear sense of who they are or their role in society.
Project Overview
Classical dance (aka, ballet) as it is taught throughout the world today, is largely based on a system rooted in Russian culture, devised by the great ballet master Agrippina Vaganova, and spread throughout the world by generations of her students.
We, the creators of this project, are very much connected with the subject and would like to make this information widely accessible to young people of today by introducing it as a compelling, core component in the current educational system.
This immersion experience into the exquisite world of ballet and performing arts will strengthen and enrich our young minds, teaching them connection with self and others, and ultimately setting them on a course to discovering and expressing their greater self.
We are in the process of developing this tremendously sought-for project, which will teach principles of integrity: presence, focus, order, determination and much more – through doing.
The Ballet & Identity project is a multi-layered exploration of a subject which, as it develops, will present portraits of influential and iconic figures from the world of classical ballet and related arts, incorporate interviews and visual demonstrations with professionals from the field, and visit places connected with this high art form.
As part of this project is the development of Ballet & Identity after school programs that will enable youths to learn experience the power of classical ballet.
In short, this project is the invaluable educational component, which would enable to bring an amazing world that builds up qualities and expands the perception of what is possible.
A former principal ballet dancer who today devotes her life to shaping young people with her coveted knowledge, recently told us that she came upon an interesting piece of information which basically says: the only thing that a computer cannot duplicate is the type of movements demanded of the human body through classical ballet.
If so, this may be the area where the human mind retains its uniqueness and superiority over any form of artificial intelligence, an innate evolutionary instrument built into us, just waiting to be tapped into!
Project Creator
Elena Alexandra MA, CMHC, CHom, is the concept and content creator of the Ballet & Identity project.
The Ballet & Identity project is envisioned to bring a quantum leap in educational programming, as developed by Ballet & Identity team in collaboration with highly-qualified professionals along with far-seeing educators and enthusiastic participants from complementary fields.
“Ballet & Identity” part 1: The Identity
with Elena Alexandra
The immersion experience into the exquisite world of ballet and performing arts will strengthen and enrich our young minds, teaching them connection with self and others, and ultimately setting them on a course to discovering and expressing their greater self.
“Ballet & Identity” part 2: The Legacy
with Elena Alexandra
One of the greatest minds of the 20th century single-handedly created the system, which serves the foundation of classical ballet as we know it today. Watch on Youtube…
We are working towards implementing this system into youth education.
Credits
Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/children-ballerinas-and-ballerinos-at-ballet-studio-6715562/
Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/boys-and-girls-in-a-ballet-studio-6718447/