• Fundamental ballet training happens at the barre.Stretching image by Marina Bartel from Fotolia.com
  
  

Start with 3.5 Feet

• Gail Grant, author of the "Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet," recommends that the ballet barre be fastened horizontally to the wall of your studio at a height of about 3.5 feet from the floor.
  
  

Consider Dancers' Heights

• The barre should preserve body positioning and alignment.ballerina girl image by Lisa Eastman from Fotolia.com
  
  Some dancers need a higher or lower barre because of age and height. Dancers should be able to clasp the barre comfortably without it interfering with their shoulder positioning or body alignment. The amount of bend in the elbow can differ among dancers, as long as the dancer isn't forced to lift or drop her shoulder.
  
  

Bottom Line

• Dancers of all sizes come to the barre.girl next door with her hair up image by Galina Barskaya from Fotolia.com
  
  Fasten one ballet barre to the wall of your studio at a height of about 3.5 feet from the floor. Attach two more barres to the wall, one slightly above and one slightly below the original. Then, you will be prepared to accommodate dancers of different heights and ages.