Ballet

[stersita]

haha i've just checked this thread ( i hadn't come since i last wrote) and i've seen odette has answered questions just as i said.. odette your a sweetie

 

[SiennaInLondon]

Hate those classes in which they have to test you and you have to pass an exam. So dumb, ballet is much more than a simple exam.Hate,hate,hate them, I remembered me and my teacher talked and talked about and how we hated those exams, trust me, there were 2 girls who had all their "exams" with good "grades" and had a "good" level and they weren't good at all, my teacher believes that ballet is an art and arts can never be tested or graded.

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Well Odette, when you are a 19 year old heffer, then it is not about being good, it is about pretending you are good

Love your av by the way. It seems in recent months there has been a mass switch to Kate avatars. Can't think why

 

[ModelsRMyLife]

I love ballet

 

[diorhomme]

I Do Ballet..... Yyayyy Lol

 

[Odette]

Well Odette, when you are a 19 year old heffer, then it is not about being good, it is about pretending you are good

That's right, I hope you understand why I hate those exams.

Dior-so you do ballet? That's great news

 

[JEM]

Hey just wanted to add my 2 cents. I used to dance quite a bit, but sadly quit this year. I'm hoping to start again in a very near future.
In any case, I took ballet, i started when i was about 7, but i knew i was never gonna become pro. I did it for posture, and for the basic steps for other dance forms. But people who see me immediaty say "you've danced", and that i owe to ballet. At one moment, I danced in a really small school, mainly as a favor to a friend, and a woman came to our class, and she had never danced in her life, and she was in her 30s. With ballet, don't expect to become like the top dancers you see ( aka stick thin) but you will definitly build some new muscles, gain posture, and feel all around good, because even though it will be hard and frustrating, if you really stick to it, you will see results, and that will be great for your body and soul. Sorry if I sound a bit melodramatic!! Have fun dancing!!!

 

[lovelymommie]

Being slim helps with speed and agility and makes it easier for a man to lift you - which you probably won't have to worry about.

I worked as the Assistant Director of a major ballet company's school for years and they still have a wonderful adult ballet program. I highly recommend studying with a teacher over a DVD. A teacher will make sure that you don't injure yourself, that you are turning out correctly and staying in alignment which is important. Plus, learning with others is fun. Since you will be pushing your body to do things it doesn't want to do, frequency of classes makes a big difference. if you can't take regular classes, make sure you stretch everyday AND also raise up onto demi pointe while brushing your teeth, cutting vegetables, etc. You want to strengthen your calves and get the balls of your feet used to the pressure. My mother was a dancer and ran a school in our home and we welcomed people of all sizes and all goals.

A great stretch to help with turn out is to lie on your stomach and bend your knees and put your toes together - like the frog position but on your stomach. Your body weight will help stretch your inner thigh and rotate your hips which is where turnout happens. There are lot of exercises you can do with therabands too for stretching your feet also.

Best of luck and have fun all of you soon-to-be dancers!!

 

[fashionlives]

I've got a question...I know this may seem a bit dumb of me to ask...but is it too late to start ballet? When I was a 6 years old I did ballet for 4 years then stopped due to an injury..I am 24 now and would like to do some ballet...but i was told that its not an intense work out and results wont be noticeable...it would be more noticeable when your younger...ie. the posture, the toned body etc...any ballet dancers here started at an older age ? any tips? good ballet videos? etc..please share

hey go for it!!
there's some good books on amazon for adult beginners.
tell us how you go =)

 

[Bluestar07]

^^ lovely mommie, I love stretching exercises. After a long day at the office, stretching is a great way to unwind and release all that tension in the body. I love the "froggy" stretch too!

 

[Avant Garde]

I'm really glad your thinking about starting again. Definetly go for it

I started ballet when I was 7 and quit when I was 9, I regreted it and I started again from square 1. Luckily the local dance place has teen classes.

If you decide to take lessons again, make sure to look for adult classes, I'm sure they have some. And also check to make sure the class is full year, and all the prices seem reasonable.

Good luck!

 

[Tiffany7]

I took many years of ballet mainly for technique. My main thing was jazz & I was in a touring jazz dance company back in the 80's. I stopped dancing for nearly 10 years & have just started ballet classes again. Its the best thing Ive ever done! Dance feeds my soul & Ive been missing that creative thing in my life big time. I know I cant make a career of ballet now but I have been asked to be in a performance so that made me really happy. Just to be able to dance makes me happy. Im planning on taking modern dance too & then getting into ballroom where I know I can have a dance career for years to come as a teacher. It would be the best to have a job I love. Right now Im in the medical field & it is rewarding & all but like I said something is just missing. Just getting into class again has done so much for me. So I say GO FOR IT FOR SURE!!

 

[primaballerina]

Hi everyone, I'd like to put my two cents in. I've been a classically trained ballerina for the past 14 years. I dance 3 hours a night for 5 days a week, and 6 hours on Saturdays too. So I can certainly attest that ballet is/can be very intensive, but I will also say that it is AMAZING!

Whether you do it for the love of the artform or as part of a fitness program, ballet is an enjoyable way to live a healthy lifestyle. And despite what anybody says, you CAN dance at any age! I mean granted if you take your first class at age 30 or something you probably won't become a professional. But that's not what's important, because most people dance for the love and enjoyment of it- not for career aspirations. So I say definitely take ballet, or any form of dance for that matter, because you will find that you will truly grow to love it!!!

Anyone can dance, and everyone should

 

[Tiffany7]

Wow I remember schedules like that. I dont think I could do more than 3 classes a week now though... I have just started dancing again so I havent quite got my stamina up yet but the more I take the more I want to take.

I completely agree... your never to old to dance!

 

[Bluestar07]

I've been dancing jazz for the past 6 years and will probably start ballet next week. I've problems with my left turnout - it's not as far out as my right. Any exercises I can do to improve?

 

[amphrosyne]

^ Do pliés in third position then the fifth position. Grand battement can also loosen the hips. Then do a battment tendu with a demiplié in the 4th + 5th position. Good luck.

 

[Bluestar07]

^ Pliés in third and fifth = ouch for me right now.

 

[indie]

Yay I dance ballet too! It's so fun I've danced for 9 yrs. I know I'm not going to be a pro but I still want to continue cause it's such a good workout.

 

[amphrosyne]

You'll get there . They usually use pliés as warmup to loosen you up.

 

[primaballerina]

Wow, it's great to see that you are a dancer too! Yeah, the schedule's crazy (as you already understand) but I love it so it's worth it. And I'm glad to see you're dancing again- welcome back sweetie! Keep me posted on how your classes are going, it's so great to talk to another dancer. Talk to you soon chickie!

Wow I remember schedules like that. I dont think I could do more than 3 classes a week now though... I have just started dancing again so I havent quite got my stamina up yet but the more I take the more I want to take.

I completely agree... your never to old to dance!

 

[tooprettyinpink]

i danced ballet ever since i could remember until i was 11. I am 14 now, and, though i am glad i took a break, i truly want to start again. I think i needed a break to try out other things..but i've realized that i enjoy ballet the most and i am the best at it ha. I plan on starting classes again this summer, but even though i was very good while i was dancing, i barely exercise now and im afraid of being stuck with 8 year olds because i will not be able to keep up with any other class. Anyway, I really am going to give it a try this summer...wish me luck!