It's a grueling, difficult activity that demands a tremendous amount of strength, stamina and skill.
Yet it is not a well known or popular sport.
Ballet is a sport of beauty, performance and delicacy. Behind the grace, however, there is a much less glamorous side to the art of dance.
"It hasn't allowed me to be in any other sports," said senior Meagan Perjessy. "It's become such a big part of my life."
"I give up all my time," said sophomore Larissa Marceau. "There are a lot of social things that you have to give up because of rehearsals and performances."
Over Thanksgiving weekend the Northwest Ballet Company will present its annual showing of "The Nutcracker" at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts.
The five FHS members of the company Ñ Perjessy, Marceau, and sophomores Amy Hartman, Courtney Jacobson and Gina Johnson Ñ spend many hours a week on dancing, forfeiting other activities.
With all the time spent with the company, there comes a closeness, much like family, between the members of the ballet company.
"It's definitely a family," said Perjessy. "We go on tour and out of town; that's when the company becomes really close."
"I play sports too," said Johnson. "The bond that you have with people in ballet is completely different, it's unique."
"It's a good way to exercise your mind and your body, and to express yourself artistically using the stage as your canvas," said Johnson.
Many of the dancers started ballet when very young.
"I've been dancing for 11 years," said Perjessy. "It runs in the family. My aunt and my grandmother were professional ballerinas"
"My mom put me in ballet when I was two," said Johnson, "and I've been dancing for 14 years."
"I love performing the most," said Perjessy. "Because I can express my emotions and feelings
with out saying anything."