Gymnasts take ballet because so much of beam and floor is dance. Women's artistic routines must include set dance elements, such as leaps and jumps with a full 180° split, and judges deduct for bent knees, flexed feet and poor artistry. Ballet trains all of those.
Leaps, jumps and turns
Ballet class builds the dance elements gymnasts are scored on. Grand jetés become split leaps, sautés and changements train clean jumps, and pirouettes build the balance behind full turns on beam. The focus is on height, shape and a controlled finish.
Feet, lines and execution
In gymnastics, flexed feet and bent knees cost tenths in execution. Ballet drills pointed feet and straight legs at the barre in every class, from the first tendu onwards.
Artistry on floor
Floor routines are set to music, and judges score how well a gymnast performs to it. Ballet gives gymnasts arm movements, poise and transitions that link the skills together and help a routine flow.
Landings
Ballet-trained girls land jumps with more bend at the ankle, knee and hip than girls who don't dance (Harwood et al. 2018). In another study, ballet-trained women landed with less load on the knee (Williams et al. 2025). That may help gymnasts, whose landings are much bigger, but no study has tested ballet as injury prevention for gymnasts.
Fitting in a class
Some gymnastics clubs run their own dance or choreography sessions. Otherwise, a weekly graded ballet class at a local dance school works well, at a level that suits the gymnast's age. Tell the teacher about the gymnastics. Ballet asks for turnout from the hip in almost every step, and that takes time to learn.
Gymnasts who love tumbling might prefer acro dance, which mixes acrobatics with choreography: see acro vs gymnastics. To start with ballet, learn the five ballet positions and find a class in the schools directory.
Frequently asked questions
Is ballet good for gymnasts?
Yes, for the dance side of beam and floor: leaps, jumps, turns, pointed feet and artistry. It works alongside gymnastics training, and there's no evidence yet that it prevents gymnastics injuries.
How often should a gymnast do ballet?
One class a week is a common start. Count it as part of their total training hours, as gymnasts already train a lot.
Should a gymnast do ballet or acro dance?
Ballet suits a gymnast who wants better leaps, lines and artistry. Acro dance overlaps more with the tumbling skills they already have.
Last checked: 6 November 2026