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What is Water Ballet?

K T Solis
K T Solis

Water ballet is the original term for synchronized swimming, a water sport performed primarily by women. Water ballet is categorized by choreographed movements in the water that must be performed with ease and grace. The sport requires flexibility, agility, precise timing, and the ability to control breathing underwater.

Water ballet first began with Annette Kellerman, a woman from Sydney, Australia. She was born on 6 July 1886 and from an early age suffered from rickets, a disease that weakens and softens the bones. In order to fight the debilitating disease, Kellerman spent most of her childhood swimming. Her daily swims caused her to gain strength in her legs and catapulted her to a career that brought her fame.

Synchronized swimmers make difficult moves look easy.
Synchronized swimmers make difficult moves look easy.

In 1905, Kellerman performed at the London Hippodrome, a huge performance hall in England. There she performed in a huge glass tank, swimming, diving, and dancing underwater. She brought her act to the U.S. in 1906, enjoying further success. Inspired by Kellerman, a woman by the name of Kay Curtis started a water ballet club at the University of Chicago in 1923.

Synchronized swimmers must be skilled in controlling their breathing underwater.
Synchronized swimmers must be skilled in controlling their breathing underwater.

In 1934, Curtis brought water ballet to the Chicago's World Fair. Soon after, Chicago area schools began to form their own synchronized swimming groups. After World War II, water ballet continued to grow in popularity throughout the world. In the 1940s, Olympic swimmer and movie star Esther Williams cemented the popularity of water ballet by performing in the San Francisco World's Fair Aquacade and several MGM movies.

Eventually, the sport came to be known as synchronized swimming, or synchro. In 1984, synchronized swimming became an official Olympics competition. The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics marked the first time medals were given for athletes who excelled in the sport.

In synchronized swimming, athletes must execute difficult movements in water while making them look simple to perform. Routines are choreographed to music and performed as either a duet or team. In a technical routine, swimmers must perform set movements in a specific order to predetermined music. A free routine is choreographed by the swimmers, with no restrictions on choreography or music. Free routines allow the synchronized swimming team to reveal both its technique and artistry.

Typical routines include spectacular lifts and throws, each member of the team moving in unison as they swim through the water. Two panels of judges score the routines, providing scores based on technical merit and artistic impression. A team can earn up to ten points for a routine.

Discussion Comments

ninetydegree

I remember learning moves called the Submarine and the Eiffel Tower...when I see what's going on today in synchronized swimming, I'm blown away.

I will probably teach my grandchildren these water ballet art moves when they come to visit me. There's something magical about moving like a powerful dolphin or a submarine in the water.

SarahG

As a child growing up in India, I remember the summer temperatures sometimes as high as 120°. I basically lived at the swimming pool and loved being on the swim team, dive team and synchronized swim team. Combining ballet exercises with creative swimming moves made water ballet my favorite summer hobby.

Believe it or not, decades later, I can still impress my kids with a few cool moves in the pool!

robert13

I had no idea this originated from an Australian woman and what an interesting story of how it came to be, too. It must take an enormous amount of strength to be able to be able to move so freely and precisely in water, not to mention the lifts and throws.

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    • Synchronized swimmers make difficult moves look easy.
      By: Maxisport
      Synchronized swimmers make difficult moves look easy.
    • Synchronized swimmers must be skilled in controlling their breathing underwater.
      By: ElinaManninen
      Synchronized swimmers must be skilled in controlling their breathing underwater.