my teacher makes me so scared! what should I do?

[Guest Giselle83]

Hello! I have this strange problem...We have a new teacher and I'm kind of scared of her! I'm a little shy too!

 

I cant do anything in front of her, I just start shaking and especially doing some adagio in the centre. It is so difficult. I'm afraid that she sees how bad my technique is...How to get rid of this and 'relax' a little bit? her look is so strict and she gives me alot of corrections...and when I'm nervous I mix up some moves and she simply screams my name

I cant have any kind of relaxation in my moves, especially in difficult ones. I dont even look like I'm dancing anymore... I just hoped that somebody could help a little...any advice or own experiences?

[Mel Johnson]

Wait until the newness wears off.

 

I used to take class from a teacher who was given to wearing sunglasses. You could never tell where she was looking. Her approach to class was sort of "space - the final frontier..." A few years ago, I found that she'd written a book about the Zen of ballet. All I could say was, "Well, I knew she wasn't your classicist!"

[balletowoman]

If you haven't had her for a few months yet, then it's natural to be a little apprehensive... You will see that you will 'shake' less in front of her and feel more confident to show your 'true' level.

At the moment, you act like you would in front of an examiner I guess... You will also get used to what she asks, and interpret her corrections more easily (as you will know what she really means)

 

You have to be able to make the distinction between fear and respect though. If you are really impressed by her personality and value her comments a lot, you may feel you're 'scared' of her, but you're in actual facts only very respectful of her feedback.

If you -after a few lessons- still feel like she 'bullies' you, then it's not good! Her feedback should ultimately help you progress not prevent you from it.

 

She should guide you in your work and not make you feel that you would never be able to overcome those mistakes! Shouting your name will 'freeze' you in the middle of the exercise more than help you... I don't think even the most horrible/ugly performance deserves to be shouted at though...

Everyone is at a different level and everyone started at the beginning... It's not pretty then, but it's only encouragement that will make you change your bad habits!

[Garyecht]

Giselle83, from what you have said, it is very difficult to figure out what is really going on, but I have a guess and some suggestions. Of course my guess can be wrong, so take it for what it is.

 

My first guess is that the whole problem resides entirely in your head rather than in the teacher’s behavior. If that is the case, you just need to tell yourself that over and over, until it sinks in. You have chosen to make your own problem. Time will certainly help. Just keep reminding yourself that you are choosing to make a problem for yourself.

 

My second guess is that you have a high need to please others. That can be a good strategy if you want something from someone. Perhaps you want praise? If so, why? I mean praise is nice. It certainly makes you feel good. But is it necessary to have praise to enjoy a dance class?

 

I’m assuming you don’t have professional aspirations, so really be selfish about class. You are in class to enjoy the act of dancing as best you can and to learn a little along the way. No one really cares if you trip and fall (assuming no injury). No one really cares if you make mistakes. Teachers do try to do their best to help students. All most teachers really want I think is to see effort and improvement, however slight it might be.

 

You cannot will yourself to do any step. In fact, for many people, the harder they try, the more difficult it is. Time and lots of repetitions will result in improvement over the long haul, so do practice outside of class.

 

And finally, accept your own abilities whatever they are. I am sure you can find aspects of your dancing that pleases you or makes you feel good about what you have accomplished. Concentrate on those positives.

[Mr Robin]

I used to take class from a teacher who was given to wearing sunglasses.  You could never tell where she was looking.  Her approach to class was sort of "space - the final frontier..."  A few years ago, I found that she'd written a book about the Zen of ballet.  All I could say was, "Well, I knew she wasn't your classicist!"

That's a book I'd be interested to read, Major! What's her name, and the book's title?

[Guest piccolo]

A while ago, I had a different problem but my solution may help you. At my university, they hired (temporarily, thank goodness) a ballet teacher for one semester. He was, by far, the worst teacher I have ever had ever. However, I wanted to take a ballet class regularly at school. So this is what I did. I would go early to class, warm up and stretch and literally "psyche" myself up for the class. Over and over I would tell myself that I wouldn't let his incompetence upset me and despite his horribly awkward transitions and exercises, I would find a way to dance them nonetheless. It helped.

 

Perhaps you could do a similar thing. Go to class early, warm up and tell yourself that you will work hard and work to the best of your ability and that is what you are prepared to give in class. Everything else is the teachers problem, not yours. This way, you can concentrate on yourself and let everything else go. Hope this helps.

[Mel Johnson]

I used to take class from a teacher who was given to wearing sunglasses.  You could never tell where she was looking.  Her approach to class was sort of "space - the final frontier..."  A few years ago, I found that she'd written a book about the Zen of ballet.  All I could say was, "Well, I knew she wasn't your classicist!"

That's a book I'd be interested to read, Major! What's her name, and the book's title?

In the interest of protecting the guilty (me) and the innocent (you), I'm going to decline to divulge the requested information.

[Xena]

Hi Giselle

 

As it is a new teacher, it is a bit normal to be a bit apprehensive, but it should wear off. The thing is, you seem to be going by how she looks at you, and to be honest, yes some ballet teachers I have had look formidable, that is until you actually take the time to get to know them a bit more and then you realise how wrong you actually were. I have learnt this more than once.

 

The main thing is Giselle, that you do an awful lot of ballet don't you? How many hours do you dance a week?

Even the dancers in a major ballet company go to ballet class and are corrected; we always have to improve and there will never be a time when you can say 'Right,. I have that step done and dusted, next one..' it doesn't work like that.

 

Your teacher is there to help you. She sounds competent enough, otherwise I do not think you would be there.

 

Also, it is the teacher's curse. There you are pulling off wonderful doubles, or managing to balance perfectly in a penche , when you teacher says "yes, beautiful" or you notice him/her looking at you'..then it all goes a bit pear shaped.

It happens, let go, move on, and get on with the next step. The reason you take class is to make mistakes and to learn from them, otherwise there is no reason for you to take class.

 

Jeanette

[Guest Giselle83]

thanks for so many replies! I dont take 'awful alot' ballet, last year I took only 5-6 hours a week!!! Next year I dont know yet. We're having a summer session and our future teacher is teaching us now. I have had few of her classes also last summer so I know her a little. Maybe she was screaming only at me because she basically remembered only my name in the class. I just got a feeling that I was the worst!!!!!

 

I simply hope I stop being afraid...the fact that she has a class also in the upper National Ballet School makes me so so nervous!

But to think positive, she totally makes me work hard and sort of bite my teeth together and show her that I can do it!!!!! maybe that's exactly what she wants when she laughs at us with pity in her voice.

 

In general I'm very shy when I have to talk with my teachers, I just want to respect them and I cant talk with them in a very informal way. I can hardly open my mouth sometimes (but that has to do something with the fact that my first ballet teacher yelled at us not asking enough, but when we asked she screamed that we should first think ourselves and not always ask simple things...!).

 

Giselle