Starting Character

[Guest Aurora]

This summer I will be taking character for the first time at my summer intensive. I wanted to know a couple of things about how to prepare-What do I need to buy? Any suggestions on skirts and shoes are greatly appreciated! Also, any basic info on character would be helpful, as none of the studios in my area offer it as a class. Thanks in advance!

[Mel Johnson]

Hi, Aurora, and welcome to the Young Dancers' Forums at Ballet Talk here on Ballet Alert! Online!

 

The program you are attending should make clear to you what shoes and skirts are expected for character class. If they have not provided you with what they want, then contact them and ask them. Basically, a knee-length circle skirt and a sturdy leather shoe with a medium heel is generally what is worn by women in character classes.

 

Character is taught in many different ways by many different schools. Suffice it to say that you will be taught the basics of national dances of several different countries.

[Guest dancingostrich]

What Is character? i know its i type of dance that has long skirts but thats about it.

[Mel Johnson]

Character is basically the national dancing of Russia, Poland, Hungary, Spain, and other European nationalities. Heel beats are common to most of these forms. I have known some Asian dances to be introduced as well, but that's only been when the company to which the school belonged was producing a work with Asian elements in it. That's too bad, as I feel that many Asian forms have their own things to add to the ballet vocabulary.

[Guest thumpinhippo]

I thought most ballet schools had character in the curriculum simply because i've been doing bits of it since i was in grade III.

[balletqueen3450]

I've taken character for two years now, and I love it!! its so much fun. Just general advice for it you have to look like you are having fun really smile not in a cheesy kind of okay well i'm supposed to smile but I cant wait till this is over, you have to enjoy it and be proud that is also really important...character is so fun you should like it!

 

 

p.s.-Sorry Ms. Leigh kind of just slipped with the computer talk I'll keep the punctuation in mind when I post from now on.

[Victoria Leigh]

Balletqueen, do you think it might be possible for you to try a little bit of punctuation here and there? Using upper case at the beginning of sentences, and separating things with commas, or sentences with periods really make it a great deal easier to read your post. The above is a paragraph-long run-on sentence. We also do not use any computereez or teenspeak here, not even "2" for "two". Thank you.

 

(By the way, the little button marked "edit" below your post allows you to correct your posts ;) )

[Dolphingirl]

I have absolutely loved all the character classes I've taken (a few at CPYB and a few here at home). It was no trouble at all for me to get right into it and have a great time, even when I couldn't quite follow the steps. CPYB didn't have requirements on shoes or a skirt, so I had a skirt (a red circle skirt used for Russian in Nutcracker... I always stood out against the black skirts in class) but I didn't have the shoes. That was sort of hard, because I couldn't get the same clicky sounds that other people got, but I actually found that it helped a bit because I had enough trouble getting the hang of some of the more complicated steps and would probably have ended up twisting my ankle had I had the high heels. I do own a pair of character shoes now, though, since I wore them in Nutcracker last year, so I'd love to take some classes with them! I'm sure you'll enjoy it immensly, and it's a class I would encourage everyone to take, given the opportunity

[Guest Passion4Ballet]

I adore character, I've been doing it almost as long as I have been ballet and it really is fun. My view is to just really enjoy it and throw yourself into it, it's not technically as tough as ballet (I think anyway, feel free to correct me, moderators!) so you shouldn't have many problems! Good luck!

[Guest Aurora]

Thank you all for the helpful tips & the warm welcome! Your comments have helped a lot!

 

Thumpinhippo: As RAD isn't offered at any of the (few) studios nearby, Character is used only in local productions.

 

Thanks a bunch!

[Guest RachelsDream]

I really enjoy character! I find it really good for ballet - great for the way you present yourself and stage presence (I think I repeated myself!). Also, it has been a great way to learn about other cultures.

 

Rachel

[Guest twinklehooves]

Originally posted by Victoria Leigh

Balletqueen, do you think it might be possible for you to try a little bit of punctuation here and there?  Using upper case at the beginning of sentences, and separating things with commas, or sentences with periods really make it a great deal easier to read your post. The above is a paragraph-long run-on sentence.  We also do not use any computereez or teenspeak here, not even "2" for "two". Thank you.  

 

(By the way, the little button marked "edit" below your post allows you to correct your posts ;) )

 

She said she was sorry and she'll keep it in mind next time. Maybe she was in a hurry??

[Petite_Arabesque]

I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that Ms. Leigh posted that before balletqueen edited her post-not after.

 

~*~Carmen~*~

[Mel Johnson]

And sometimes, the spell-check moderator comes in and works a post over!;) Not this one, at least that I know of.