I had poor training and I have lost confidence....

[Guest Alive2Dance]

When I was 3 years old i began dancing at a studio that I later found out was not teaching the proper technique at all(1 class a week!). After I went en pointe there when I was 11 I realized for myself I wanted to be serious and go to a better studio. I switched to a studio that trained the Royal Academy of Dance's way. I did it for a few months, it just wasnt for me and I never felt comfortable. Now almost 2 years later I finally found a studio I love after not dancing since that experience. The teacher at the studio has given me hope that I will do fine even after not dancing. I have been dancing now almost every day for weeks, and she has put me back en pointe. I guess I was stronger than I thought. I still see some of my best friends my age doing things I only dream of being able to do and it makes me feel really horrible. My teacher believes in me and that makes me feel great(I posted about it on the brag board), but I guess it's hard for me to feel confident about myself. Do you think theres anyway I could be at the level I should be right now if I keep working? Thank you~sorry its so long

[Mel Johnson]

Hi Alive2dance, and welcome to the Young Dancers' forum at Ballet Talk for Dancers on Ballet Alert! Online!

 

Because we can't see you, it's difficult to give you advice on your problem. A lot will depend on how much you have to unlearn from earlier experiences. Also, I'm a little troubled by your being put back on pointe after "weeks" back in class, rather than longer. It takes not only strength, but technique in order to use pointework safely. What was it that you didn't enjoy about the RAD classes? Or was it about the way it was being taught, in other words, the teacher? Depending on your own natural abilities, it should not be impossible to work up to your contemporaries' ability level, but just how old are you? You seem to be about 13, is that right? The older you are, the more rigorous and excellent the training has to be in order to move you over into the "serious" side of study.

[Victoria Leigh]

Alive2dance, I did not start serious and quality training until 13, after a few years of once a week 'okay but not great' training. Having a rather good facility for dance, by 16 I had reached the top level. However, I too am very concerned about your starting on pointe so quickly, as Mr. Johnson said. It's not that you might not be strong enough physically, but that it is quite doubtful that you have enough technique and knowledge to be there. However, with daily classes, if you have good coordination, rotation, and flexibility, you could progress very quickly. Be sure to take enough lower level classes to really learn and understand all the basics, though!

[Guest dancer88291]

For almost 8 years I went to a really bad studio. I found that I was terrible. But I went to a new studio, worked very hard, and I have become a very serious dancer. It takes time to notice that you are good, but once you do, you will gain confidence!

 

Im really sorry if this is chatting

[Mel Johnson]

Not really chatting. It's "anecdotal support of previous answer."

[Guest GummieBear]

It takes time to notice your own self-improvement. But once you do, you will gain self-confidence.

[Victoria Leigh]

Hello GummieBear, and welcome to the Young Dancers' forum here on Ballet Talk for Dancers! There is a forum called "Welcome", where you might like to introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about you and your relationship to ballet!

[Guest Alive2Dance]

Thanks for the great replies! I am 14 years old. As far as being en pointe again, I'm actually doing my first class as a private class with her this Tuesday. I think she's going to take it very slow, but when I began classes this summer I was not completely weak and out of shape, so I had something to start with. I'm taking about 6 ballet classes a week, plus jazz classes to improve my flexibility. I'm also doing daily things at home to increase the strength in my ankles and have been working really hard. I didnt expect her to put me en pointe this quickly, but other advanced dancers I've talked to have also seen my surprising improvement. I know I've had improvement since I've started, the main thing about my post was that I was just discouraged because I felt like I may never be where I could've been if I had good training this whole time. Sorry about my long reply, I just want everyone to understand my situation. Thank you again!

Edited July 18, 2004 by Alive2Dance

[ArabesqueAngel23]

Ms. Leigh,

You have no idea how glad I was to read your response about your past training. I too danced from the time I was 3 to 13 at an "okay" school loving ballet the most, but also taking some tap and jazz classes. By the time I was old enough to realize that the training was not good and found a wonderful school where I am training in ballet now, I thought it was too late. The upcoming year will be my fourth at this school and I feel that I have improved drastically over the past year in particular, so maybe I have a chance! I feel inspired now...

Thank you for your extensive dedication to making BalletTalk a place to find quality information.

[Mel Johnson]

Don't apologize for long posts, Alive2dance. We approve of that sort of thing. Unlike some other boards, we try to keep Ballet Talk for Dancers as a discussion group, and not just a place for one-liners, although there is a place for that, too. It's best for us to know about your own particular situation in some depth, so that we can give you the very best information we can give you to help you along. It's just like a normal conversation. Somebody starts it off, giving a lot of detail, and then somebody comes in after and provides additional helpful information. If the exchange goes on, then shorter posts are normal, just as in a normal classroom conversation.

 

And Heather, Ms. Leigh, Ms. Schneider and I are all grateful to you students out there who write to us, and ask questions. It's kind of a strange business, this "teaching ballet on the web," but we're glad that we're of some help to somebody out there. We're learning as we go, as cyberteachers, but we may be getting the hang of this thing after all, at least I may. My colleagues constantly amaze me with their ability to convey technical instruction in a clear, understandable way. And people like you have helped us learn how to do that.

[Guest Herrera dancer]

aww that is a very unfourtunate experience for you. But you must know that you are not alone and alot of people go through this! never give up! strech everyday! work your hardest in dance class! you can pull through!

~hererra dancer

[Mel Johnson]

Welcome, herrera dancer, to the Young Dancers' forum here at Ballet Talk for Dancers on Ballet Alert! Online!

 

This board may be different from many of the boards that all of us see on our trips through the web, looking for ballet sites. There are forums for technical advice, which is given by professional teachers, as this one, and places for discussion of artistic matters, like "Dancers for Dancers", and then even a little place for chatty stuff about ballet called the Buddy Board. You will be eligible for that forum once you've been here awhile, two weeks, and have made 30 substantive posts. Here's a little guidance for you from further up the board on how things run around here, and even some answers why!

 

http://balletalert.com/dancersforum/index.php?showforum=85