History Main / DaintyLittleBalletDancers

Even though ballerinas are the most usual example, male dancers get this just as often, despite the fact that they need to be strong enough to so much as lift their partners overhead with the maximum level of gracefulness possible (compare this with ProfessionalWrestling, in which doing exactly the same is relegated to the physically strongest workers in the ring!). Ballerinas are usually just as strong themselves muscle-wise in their lower bodies, as they need it to leap very high and land harmoniously without the natural, crouchy moves that make it easier for the rest of mortals.

* In ''Theatre/OnTheTown'', the "Miss Turnstiles" ballet has Ivy Smith assuming an improbably wide range of personalities. Ivy and her {{Leitmotif}} are presented at first in a delicate "Allegretto di 'Ballet Class'" (which is in [[UncommonTime 5/4 time]]), though the ensuing variations on her theme culminate by showing off her athletic side.

--> ''But everything was beautiful at the ballet//
''Graceful men with lovely girls in white''

* Ivy Carson in Zilpha Keatley Snyder's ''The Changeling'' ''looks'' like this, and even believes she might be an actual fairy changeling. Occasionally she is able to take classes with an elderly retired dancer from the Bolshoi, whom we can assume fills her in on what is physically required.

* There's a ''Franchise/DennisTheMenace'' story, "Ballet is Okay", where Dennis attends Margaret's ballet school (his parents think it'll influence him to take an interest in culture). Instead, he learns some "new fighting tricks" from a fellow student who takes a ''grand jete'' out of the way when Dennis tries to hit him.

* Averted to a degree within football circles: a number of coaches and players are aware of the strength ballet requires, and take it as a way to develop their muscles.

* In an ''Franchise/ArchieComics'' story, Archie and Reggie make fun of Veronica's "sissy" ballet instructor, until [[DanceBattler he uses dance moves to beat up]] some thugs threatening them. The two of them then take ballet lessons with him themselves.

* An example of this trope being inverted for humorous value is in Disney's ''Disney/{{Fantasia}}'', which depicts hippos in tutus dancing to Ponchielli's "Dance of the Hours."

* Averted in ''Discworld/GoingPostal'', where a discussion about whether the Post Office chandelier that was stolen by the Assassins Guild or the one that was stolen by the Opera House would be safer to retrieve concludes "Some of those ballerinas can kick like a mule."

* ''Film/OutrageousFortune'': Lauren is a bit of a SpoiledSweet, but her ballet classes come in handy when the bad guy is chasing her across the buttes of the Southwest. She is able to make incredible leaps across from one separate plateau to the other because of the leaps she learned, that the bad guy has trouble matching -- until he misses altogether and falls to his death.

* ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'': Gru's three adorable little daughters are all tough in different ways. But they all take their ballet seriously enough to tell Gru flat out that his plans don't trump their ballet classes. They wear white Tutus for ''Swan Lake'', and their pink tutus and shoes for the DancePartyEnding of the movie.

** {{Gender Inverted|Trope}} with Mytho. He's extremely vulnerable in particular; he keeps letting himself be injured unintentionally and reacting passively to everything. This is a plot element and he winds up getting stronger later and doing things like sword fighting monsters, but not until going through an emotional roller-coaster of crying and freaking out and so forth. Basically everyone in his life wants to shelter him and protect him in some way. His character design is also very dainty and frail looking, pale skin, girly pale hair, and big eyes.

See also {{Ballet}} and RealMenWearPink.

* Mytho from ''Anime/PrincessTutu'' is a rare male example, being depicted as being extremely vulnerable in particular; he keeps letting himself be injured unintentionally and reacting passively to everything. This is a plot element and he winds up getting stronger later and doing things like sword fighting monsters, but not until going through an emotional roller-coaster of crying and freaking out and so forth. Basically everyone in his life wants to shelter him and protect him in some way. His character design is also very dainty and frail looking, pale skin, girly pale hair, and big eyes. Averted with Fakir, despite him having the same build as Mytho, because he is consistently portrayed as a strong presence and his dancing is noticeably more aggressive.

They're ballet dancers. They're participants in a traditionally feminine activity. So they've got to be delicate, right?

Simply put, this is when ballet dancers are portrayed as delicate little flowers of femininity, even though ballet is by its very nature as physically taxing as contact sports, if not more so. Ballerinas often get this treatment, though male dancers get this just as often, despite the fact that they need to be strong enough to so much as ''lift'' their partners. Ballerinas are actually just as strong themselves muscle-wise in RealLife.

This trope is full of UnfortunateImplications, both because although ballet dancers are considered dainty and delicate, the form requires great strength, and because it reinforces old, sexist ideas of manhood, making any man a "sissy" who does ballet.

Simply put, this is when ballet dancers are portrayed as delicate little flowers of femininity, even though ballet is by its very nature as physically taxing as contact sports, if not moreso. Ballerinas often get this treatment, though male dancers get this just as often, despite the fact that they need to be strong enough to so much as ''lift'' their partners. Ballerinas are actually just as strong themselves muscle-wise in RealLife.

* Mytho from ''Anime/PrincessTutu'' is a rare male example, being depicted as being extremely vulnerable in particular; he keeps letting himself be injured unintentionally and reacting passively to everything. This is a plot element and he winds up getting stronger later and doing things like sword fighting monsters, but not until going through an emotional roller-coaster of crying and freaking out and so forth. Basically everyone in his life wants to shelter him and protect him in some way. His character design is also very dainty and frail looking, pale skin, girly pale hair, and big eyes.

* In an ''Franchise/ArchieComics story'', Archie and Reggie make fun of Veronica's "sissy" ballet instructor, until [[DanceBattler he uses dance moves to beat up]] some thugs threatening them. The two of them then take ballet lessons with him themselves.

[[AC:Film]]
%%* Possibly Film/BillyElliot.
* Inverted in ''Film/TheCuttingEdge''. Kate Moseley is a talented figure skater, but difficult to work with. Her coach's search for a new partner leads her to none other than Doug Dorsey, a hockey player - and built like one.
* ''{{Titanic}}'': Rose uses her ballet lessons to show up a bunch of "real tough men" by standing on her toes for several excruciating seconds.

* ''Film/OutrageousFortune'': Lauren is a bit of a SpoiledSweet, but her ballet classes come in handy when the bad guy is chasing her across the buttes of the Southwest. She is able to make incredible leaps across from one separate plateau to the other because of the leaps she learned, that the bad guy has trouble matching -- until he misses altogether and falls to his death.

* In a episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheFlintstones'', Gazoo teaches Fred some rudimentary ballet to improve his bowling skills. They try to do it in secret, but Fred's friends find out anyway and have a good laugh. Ultimately, the poise and precision Fred acquired while learning ballet made him an excellent bowler.

* In an ''Comicbook/ArchieComics story'', Archie and Reggie make fun of Veronica's "sissy" ballet instructor, until [[DanceBattler he uses dance moves to beat up]] some thugs threatening them. The two of them then take ballet lessons with him themselves.

* ''Film/DespicableMe'': Gru's three adorable little daughters are all tough in different ways. But they all take their ballet seriously enough to tell Gru flat out that his plans don't trump their ballet classes. They wear white Tutus for ''Swan Lake'', and their pink tutus and shoes for the DancePartyEnding of the movie.

* {{Titanic}}: Rose uses her ballet lessons to show up a bunch of "real tough men" by standing on her toes for several excruciating seconds.

'''WARNING: This trope is full of UnfortunateImplications, both because although ballet dancers are considered dainty and delicate, the form requires great strength, and because it reinforces old, sexist ideas of manhood, making any man a "sissy" who does ballet.'''

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