Ballet

[ELLE_ME]

Just relax, you`ll never be alowed to wear pointes unless your feet are strong enough to handle it, and you being a rookie, I expect it will take years before it will be an issue Go for it, you`ll love it im sure.

 

[ELLE_ME]

Here are some guidelines Should have at least 2 years of training. Should be taking at least 3 classes a week (4.5 hours minimum) and attends classes consistently. Is able to take the entire class. Should be of normal weight. Has enough of an arched instep to stand on pointe. Has sufficient strength to do the following: Holds turnout while dancing Has a strong, straight back while dancing, especially the lower back Keeps the heels forward towards the big toe (no sickling) Uses plié while dancing Points her feet while dancing Piqué passé with straight leg 16 relevés in the center without stopping Can hold a passé balance on half-pointe

 

[chel4mdavali]

hi i know this has probably been asked here already but im 16 have had no training of dance whatsoever, well except for like 2 yrs of hip hop when i was like 8 but i dont even count that, do you guys think im barking up the wrong tree for wanting to start ballet? im 5'4 and 125 , im pretty sure that my body isnt exactly ballet ready....what do you guys think should i give it a go? or just do like yoga since its pretty popular here in LA. theres like a yoga class at ever corner...:/

 

[flutterbugfly]

^^ ohh thanks for the tips! =]

I'm starting ballet up again after stopping for 4 years (>.< eek). I really want to dance pointe be the end of high school (currently in the 10th grade). Right now I'm only taking two ballet classes a week (1 hour each) and 1.5 hour of jazz dance. I only took up the ballet classes about two weeks ago (so about four lessons now, I can still do a double pirouette!). Do you think it's possible for me? When I stopped dancing ballet (still continued w/ jazz) I was 12 (dancing for approx. 7 years) and on the verge of starting pointe, but then I moved and stopped dancing. Oh and I'm 5'4 98lbs is that too light? I know I need to gain a lot of muscle (especially in the core...balance is off).

One of my friends dances with the San Francisco Ballet. She's sooo good, but she practices four hours a day on week days and 6 on weekends, dunno if I would ever be willing to commit (not that I would ever be good enough. haha)!

 

[flutterbugfly]

hi i know this has probably been asked here already but im 16 have had no training of dance whatsoever, well except for like 2 yrs of hip hop when i was like 8 but i dont even count that, do you guys think im barking up the wrong tree for wanting to start ballet? im 5'4 and 125 , im pretty sure that my body isnt exactly ballet ready....what do you guys think should i give it a go? or just do like yoga since its pretty popular here in LA. theres like a yoga class at ever corner...:/

I say give it a go, although yoga is fun too (I do yoga once a week)! DO BOTH! =] I'm 16 as well and I'm starting up after a 4 year break. We can be dance buddies. haha.

 

[Bluestar07]

I'd say just give it a go too!

Hello every one...I want to take ballet for fun and not professionally...do I have to wear pointe shoes to advance in the class at some point or can I just wear the regular shoes and still go on in the class? I do not want to ruin my feet

You can do ballet without having to go en pointe if you choose not to. The RAD graded syllabus doesn't require you to go en pointe at all. And it goes all the way to Grade 8.

 

[chel4mdavali]

thx flutterbugfly! i think im gonna be looking more into yoga though lol. ballet seems fun but i just went to a kind of trial yoga class and i LOVE that whole relaxing, zen feeling lol. hey im all for being yoga buddies! lol. good luck with your return to ballet!

 

[barbiedoitbetter]

have u seen rihanna's latest video "umbrella"? there's her on black pointe, nice try, terible arch! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7bK4Vee36M

 

[flutterbugfly]

^^ agreed about the arch!!! I kinda like the black pointe shoes though.

 

[Bluestar07]

wow... bad arches!

 

[Racergirl]

Hi everyone...i've been extremely interested in taking up ballet late too (i'm 22). I took it for about two years, between 9-11 i think it was. Pathetic! I wish i didn't quit

I'm very strong and fit so i'm not worried about that part. I was more concerned with whether it's possible to become a *good* ballet dancer so late? I'm not saying i want to become professional...but i wouldn't mind knowing i may have that option if i train hard and have some talent (i'd have to find out that last bit! haha). So basically, I would like to be able to be a really good dancer still (if i have the talent ). But do you think it's too late to become really good? I wish i could get the opportunity to perform sometime too if it would be possible anywhere. I love dance and theatre so much...i wish i got into it more when i was younger.

 

[primaballerina]

oh yes, you can do it that's one of the best things about dance- once you learn it, you can do it until the day you die! I think you're correct on your thought that you probably won't become a professional now (typically it takes years of all-consuming practice to really reach that level); but you can certainly become good and perhaps evenhave the chance to perform with local companies!

You say you are already fit (perhaps you play a sport or go to the gym daily?); ballet really does requirea unique set of muscles andtype of movement, however your current fitness level will definitely help you out. And if you are passionate about becoming a better dancer, like willing to take corrections and make the time committment, then that counts for a whole heck of a lot!

Another thing I would recommend is privately talking to your instructor. Explain to him/her that you recognize the reality of your situation (you've only had a few years of training, it has been some time since, and you don't have out-of-this-world career expectations), and then emphasize that you are really interested in learning/taking their corrections/and have a desire to be there. Your instructor will respect you so much for this gesture!!! Plus, it will give your teacher a new respect for you and will be more likely to pay attention to you in class

Best wishes my darling <HEARTS>

 

[lyght]

i really enjoyed reading this thread!

i'm not a ballet dancer at all, but my boyfriend is a ballet teacher at the rock school (pennsylvania ballet) in philadelphia. he didn't start dancing until he was 19, and within 2 years toured japan and joined a respected modern dance company, philadanco! (is it obvious that i'm proud of him? lol)

anyway, i've gotten to watch him teach some of his classes (*swoon*) and i got the chance to attend the school's final recital before i left for hawaii (i'm a professional hawaiian dancer). it was sooo amazing! seeing that and reading this thread now has me wanting to learn! i'm old(er) but i think it would be fun...when i move to philly, i'm gonna make him teach me.

 

[teakrist]

hi!
I just got some new pointes today, and it came with this instruction to brake in the shoe.. and I didnt understand any of it Does anyone got any good pointers on braking in a new shoe?

 

[MademoiselleBleu]

teakrist, what brand of shoe are they? you have to be careful with different brands because you dont want to break them in too much and some are easier to do so then others. also if you dance a lot, i find it best to get two pairs of shoes, i was dancing six days a week up to six hours a day and i would go through pointe shoes like crazy.

one way that works is to put your shoes on before class and get the box of the shoe slightly wet not covered in water but damp then go to class. the water softens the box and it helps mold the shoe more to your foot. Here is a video as well that shows some basic techniques to break in your new pointe shoes! Hope this helps some
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX-PNqJr9z4

 

[teakrist]

teakrist, what brand of shoe are they? you have to be careful with different brands because you dont want to break them in too much and some are easier to do so then others. also if you dance a lot, i find it best to get two pairs of shoes, i was dancing six days a week up to six hours a day and i would go through pointe shoes like crazy.

one way that works is to put your shoes on before class and get the box of the shoe slightly wet not covered in water but damp then go to class. the water softens the box and it helps mold the shoe more to your foot. Here is a video as well that shows some basic techniques to break in your new pointe shoes! Hope this helps some
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX-PNqJr9z4

my pointes are bloch. I dont dance as much as you, so Id reckon they'd hold until late fall. But anyway, thanks for the pointers! Ill try to wet the box a bit before my next class!
However, the hardest part for me, are the soals, they're so stiff, its soo hard to go through a demi-pointe, and make it look nice... maybe some pointers with what to do with them?
thanks for the video

 

[kissmesweet]

Rihanna did terrible arches.

 

[Working Girl]

There is adult ballet classes at my university in September. I might join. I always secretly wanted to be a ballerina, since I was little. Now, I want to be healthy and push my body to see what it can do.

 

[cosmogrl5]

There is adult ballet classes at my university in September. I might join. I always secretly wanted to be a ballerina, since I was little. Now, I want to be healthy and push my body to see what it can do.

I was a ballerina from the age of 3 to 11 and always wish I did not quit. I am thinking of taking adult classes too. My friend is 27 and takes them. I give her lots of credit. This thread has actually inspired me...and I think I might just take some classes!

 

[MademoiselleBleu]

my pointes are bloch. I dont dance as much as you, so Id reckon they'd hold until late fall. But anyway, thanks for the pointers! Ill try to wet the box a bit before my next class!
However, the hardest part for me, are the soals, they're so stiff, its soo hard to go through a demi-pointe, and make it look nice... maybe some pointers with what to do with them?
thanks for the video

hmm I’m not surprised, bloch have really, really hard soles and I found them to be really hard to break in and look good. is this your first pair of shoes then? and did you try other brands? And what did you teacher say about them? everyone’s feet are different but when I first started I wore capezio contempora which I liked but I wore them out so, so quickly. I had one pair that were bloch and hated them. I then tried grishko 2007s and fell in love, I also had a pair of chacott coppelia which I liked as well. I never liked bloch or freed I just didn’t like how they looked but again shoes work differently for different people.

all this talk of ballet is making me so emotional i miss dancing so much!