The Mathematics of Classical Ballet

Have you ever thought about the mathematics of classical ballet?  Yes, these are the things I think about when I'm watching my daughter's ballet classes and performances.  I talk about them with her and I think it's awesome that she can see math in ballet now too!   

So this weekend my daughter had her final recital for the year.  I couldn't help but ponder how much mathematics has gone into her training this year.  She dances at a very technical school.  I watched and was amazed at the abilities of these students.  The amount of mathematics that goes into the highest level of ballet is incredible when you really stop to think about it.  

Let me share with you the math that I see in ballet.  First and foremost, let's talk about the classical music.  Music is very mathematical - arguably we all know that.  Classical ballet is steeped in fantastic classical music!  Dancers are often moving together across the stage in symmetrical patterns, and there are combinations of circles, lines, arcs, degrees and tangent circles...lots of patterns.  Ballet is geometry at its finest.  It requires spatial perception - it's experiencing time and space at their proportional relationship.  There are algorithms and numerics at the barre.  There is also reversing numbers and patterns.  Of course, there is lots of counting, adding, subtracting... Choreographers are terrific mathematicians too!    

Next time you go to the ballet, see what math you can find as you watch!