Guest pointemonky Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 (edited) I started ballet realy late. I started class when I was three, but then stopped. I am 13 and just started again. I knew I would have to work extra hard to catch up. I do all kinds of sports so I'm strong and my ankles are too. I am in a class that varies in age. We have 10 and 16 year olds. We also have a mixed class. Some girls are on pointe and others are not. The pointe girls have 5 classes a week and the soft-shoe girls have 3. I am working very hard and technique wise, I am just as good as the girls my age. My dance teacher says I may be ready to begin pointe in 2 years if not next year with a summer class. I love to dance and practice all the time, but do you think I'm rteady? I already had a private meeting with her and my mom and she had a class with me one on one to see how my ankles and legs and posture and technique looked. Edited May 2, 2004 by pointemonky Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 This is more a technique issue than one of shoes, so I'm going to move it to the Young Dancers' Forum, where technique gets handled. Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 Now, follow this link to "The Facts of Life about Pointe Work": http://balletalert.com/dancersforum/index.php?showtopic=1248 It should answer most of your questions. Then, if you have further questions, ask here. And welcome to Ballet Talk at Ballet Alert! Online! Quote Link to comment
Guest pointemonky Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 (edited) I read the post and it specified that you should have a certain number of classes. I would love to go on pointe and doesn't it depend on the dancer and their strength and readiness? I work harder than the other girls in my class. If I am ready, does it matter that I have only had 2 years of class? Edited May 2, 2004 by pointemonky Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 How many classes are you taking right now, and how long do they last? Quote Link to comment
Guest pointemonky Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 I am taking three 1 1/2 hour classes a week Quote Link to comment
Guest pointemonky Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 any other input from students who are on pointe would be helpful! Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 OK, now it's up to your teacher. We can't see how hard the other kids in the class work, so we're not much on judging your readiness from that point of view. The teacher on the scene has the best take on this issue. Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 Pointemonky, bear in mind that the moderators of the Young Dancers Forums are all professional teachers and we have a lot of experience dealing with this topic. Quote Link to comment
Guest pointemonky Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 thank you for your help. I was just wondering because I didn't know if I was ready and wanted a second opinion! Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 Oh, yes, anecdotes from peers can be helpful, too. Sometimes misery loves company. Even though I'm a man, I had to dance a part on pointe, and that fact was sprung on me two weeks before the opening of the ballet. Ouch. I had to learn fast. Quote Link to comment
Guest kitrisomeday Posted May 2, 2004 Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 We have 10 and 16 year olds. . sounds like you are moving quickly back into ballet, but i am wondering if the ballet school you are attending will provide you the right balleducation ( ha, new word) i dont think 10 year olds and 16 year olds would be in the same class in a proper school maybe you could find another place nearby that is a bit more prestigious and...heh...well a better school basically just looking out for your feet's safety! Quote Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted May 2, 2004 Administrators Report Share Posted May 2, 2004 I'm afraid I have to agree with kitrisomeday on this one. Really do not like the idea of mixed classes with that much age and level difference. No one really gets what they should be getting in that situation. Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted May 3, 2004 Report Share Posted May 3, 2004 You know, you're both right! That spread of age and ability is not beneficial to good learning. It's really better to work in a school where the grading is more tightly divided by age and advancement. Quote Link to comment
Nycbdancer Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 I don't know if this is of any relevance but this summer, I attended the CPYB August Course after my first SI. I didn't know too much about the program so I researched and found out about their work ethic and such. The AD said that she doesn't put age as a factor at all for leveling. If a fifteen year old can't do a tendu with a straight leg, they'll be placed in a class with 8 or nine year olds.until the problem is fixed. She said the kids dislike it, but understand why they're there and so they work all the harder to get the problem fixed. In my summer course, the class I was in ranged from ages 8 to 19. Just thought I'd share Quote Link to comment
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