When watching a ballet performance and admiring the strength, grace, and sheer talent of the dancers [1], your first reaction is probably, "Wow!" For nondancers, the entire world of ballet can seem mysterious; tales of rigorous training, broken bones, and steep competition never fail to pique interest in the art form. And though we've heard from professional ballerinas about their workout regimens [2] and dancer diets [3], there are plenty of things that we've always wanted to know about being a male dancer in the world of ballet.
That's why we're so excited about a recent Reddit AMA [4] from a 17-year-old semi-pro dancer, in which he discusses everything from harmful stereotypes to exactly how guys deal with the, uh, tights situation. And while you might have a healthy appreciation for male dancers' toned physiques [5], prepare to feel even more impressed after reading about his daily exercise and workload.