stamina?

[Guest dancing.silhouette.]

I'm dancing the lilac fairy variation and kitri's variation (one right after the other, because lilac is so short) for my studio's recital. Kitri's variation is a killer on it's own, and I just don't know how I'm going to have the energy to get through both of these! I've been rehearsing both of these for 2 months or so (I'm performing in June) and I have more stamina than when I first started, but I'm just not improving anymore. I was thinking about starting running, but I keep hearing over and over again that running is bad for dancers. I don't know what else to do! Is there anything 'yall can suggest for me?

[Victoria Leigh]

Literally one after the other? With no other piece in between? How do you change costume? And why would this be scheduled this way. Doesn't make any sense to me.

[Guest dancing.silhouette.]

I'm sorry I didn't clarify, Ms. Leigh.

 

Yes. They're literally one after another. I'm just wearing a plain white tutu so I'm not changing costumes. (This is only a small studio demonstration/performance type of thing. Not a huge production.) My first variation ends up by corner 1, then I go over to corner 4 and start the next one. I'm really not sure why this was scheduled this way. I tried to talk to my teacher about changing, but it's "too late" and theres nothing she can do. Sighs. I think it has to be studio politics. The girls whose mothers work there get first pick when it comes to scheduling. I might change studios next year, but the next closest reputable studio is almost 45 minutes away.

 

Anyways, I hope I didn't confuse you too much. I'll stop rambling now.

[lildancechick722]

If you want to improve your stamina and don't want to run! You can always swim! That is the best thing for dancer to improve your stamina, because your in the water, you can't get shin spilt that way! That is what I do, but it might be a little to cool depending on where you live! I live in Florida so I really don't have to worry about it but maybe you can get to an indoor pool or something!

[Guest dancing.silhouette.]

I live in Michigan. Swimming seems like a good option, though. (But not outside! Hee hee)

[Victoria Leigh]

My first suggestion is to just tell the teacher that it is not possible. No one should be expected to PERFORM two variations back to back. Rehearse them, yes, but performance, no. Secondly, to increase your stamina rehearse them four times in a row. If you can do each variation twice, then doing each once will be a lot easier. I still think the teacher could change the order. It's never too late. It even gets done in professional performances where they switch the order of the ballets at the last minute and announce when it's different from what is in the program.

[Guest dancing.silhouette.]

Thanks, Ms. Leigh.

 

I think I'll talk to her tomorrow.

[Guest five feet seven]

My old teacher told us to swim to keep our stamina up, for our variations, because it was a good workout and your wieght was supported so you would not get shin splints, etc.

[little_dancer]

When you go swimming do you just do laps? Because other girls have told me that they do a barre, some jumps(beats etc) and jetes across. Also are there some kinds of strokes that are better for dancing? I know that the breast stroke and butterfly are bad for dancers because they put alot of pressure on the knees especially if you have had injuries.