ballet academy east

[disarmedfae]

well, i just couldn't wait until january to get back to dance--i want a class -now-! so i've decided to drop in on the "intro to ballet" class at Ballet Academy East when i go to visit a friend in the city this weekend. it's taught by Melissa Wilson-- has anyone here ever taken the open, lower-level classes at BAE?

 

I emailed the school and they were very friendly in their response, but one thing was a bit puzzling: what do you think of this-- i asked if there was a specific dress code for adults, and they wrote back something along the lines of "no, all you need is a leotard, tights, and ballet slippers"-- would that, then, imply that they are averse to cover-ups/warm-up gear? i know, it's just an intro class, and i guess i read into things too much. but it's always good to know. i was just planning on wearing a pair of bike shorts over my leo & tights.

 

so, if anyone could share their experiences w/BAE i'd really appreciate it-- i'm also thinking of taking classes there in the summer, since i'm hoping to do an art internship in the city! *crosses fingers*

[Sulan]

I’ve taken one class there, and I didn’t go back... I really did not like the way the class was taught. I’ll PM the particular class, but I won’t post it; it wasn’t the one you mentioned. Practically every combination at the barre except the plies ended in a develope a la seconde that was held for at least 4 counts- even the frappes. Plus the atmosphere reminded me of everything I hated about growing up on the Upper East Side- the place is packed with kids, their nannies and Upper East Side power-mommies. I was very disappointed, since the studio was so close, and I was tired of schlepping all the way across town. I know tons of people who have had good experiences there, but mostly at the higher levels; personally, I’d recommend Steps for a beginner.

 

On your specific question- the students at BAE seemed to be more likely to show up in proper dance attire than the students at most studios, but I don’t think they’d object to bike shorts.

 

Good luck on getting the internship!

[disarmedfae]

the atmosphere reminded me of everything I hated about growing up on the Upper East Side- the place is packed with kids, their nannies and Upper East Side power-mommies.  I was very disappointed, since the studio was so close, and I was tired of schlepping all the way across town.  I know tons of people who have had good experiences there, but mostly at the higher levels; personally, I’d recommend Steps for a beginner. 

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Gee, that sounds not-too-promising...hmm. Maybe I'll have to re-think this, or maybe I'll just go and observe the class. I'm really looking for small classes, and what I've heard about Steps (and similarly, BDC) is that the classes are enormous, which kind of puts me off.

 

And double ugh about the upper east side-yness...I'm not a new yorker, but I'm from southern CT and have spent a lot of time in the city, and if I had to pick, I'd say that I'm more of a downtown girl I was going to drop in on the Joffrey School's class with Dena Moss, but i'd rather find a sunday class....

 

thanks for sharing your advice, Sulan. if anyone else has experience with BAE, or other recommendations (though I've combed all the threads concerning classes in NYC!) it would be greatly appreciated.

[Sulan]

If you’re a downtown girl, then you might want to check out Dance Space in Soho… I haven’t taken classes there myself, but tons of my friends have, and they love it. There’s a 4:00 beginning ballet class on Sunday. Here’s the website.

[disarmedfae]

If you’re a downtown girl, then you might want to check out Dance Space in Soho… I haven’t taken classes there myself, but tons of my friends have, and they love it.  There’s a 4:00 beginning ballet class on Sunday.  Here’s the website.

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That sounds great. Do you think, however, that since Dance Space is a more modern-focused school, there will be v. accomplished modern/jazz dancers (even if they have little ballet experience) in the class? I don't really know a whole lot about Dance Space...but it sounds really cool!

[disarmedfae]

not to bump my own post, but i was just thinking...i had read a bunch of great things about BAE, that the instructors gave lots of attention, the studio wasn't crowded/competitive...is there anyone out there who can confirm this?

 

i may just take the BAE class for the heck of it. and then again, i might just take the dance space class too. i just need to find somewhere to get my body moving this weekend--my fencing is over for the semester, studying has kept me from the gym, and i don't want to go too long without a workout! does joffrey allow drop-ins to their elementary class with dena moss? (i just got the "ballet-fit" book and i'm in love!) on their website there is a blurb about placement classes. i'm just so confused!

 

mm. sorry. it's nearly 2 am and i'm doing my best to procrastinate about finishing this paper...oh dear me. i'll be going now.

[koshka]

I don't have enough specific experience with BAE to say much (exactly one class), but at most places the vibe varies a lot with time of day _and_ one of the beauties of being an adult student is that the kids' vibe is (or can be) pretty irrelevant...

[Amathyst]

I take class regularly at BAE and Joffrey. BAE is great studio. The classes are small and you will get lots of individual attention especially if you go regularly. I take beginner and advanced beginner classes but Melissa Wilson subbed once, and I liked her very much. There is no dress code for adults. I understand what you mean by the whole "upper east side atmosphere" and while it does exist, I don't pay any attention to that. I have met some really nice people there.

 

I really like the Joffrey too. I don't take Dena Moss's class now, but I have in the past and she is very good for basic beginners. There is no dress code or placement class for adults at the Joffrey and you can drop in anytime.

 

I recently took a basic level class at Alvin Ailey in their brand new building. The facilities were great and the class was small. The Ballet I class was very slow and good for real beginners. Ballet II was a little faster.

 

I would not worry about taking a ballet class at a school that does not focus on ballet. Even if the school is focused on modern, jazz or something else, the ballet classes are usually very traditional and are not compromised in any way.

[disarmedfae]

thank you so much, amathyst! you just basically answered everything i was possibly wondering about-- thanks especially for the note on ailey as well. i think i'm going to go to the BAE class on sunday, i would drop in on joffrey as well tomorrow, but i think that would be overly neglecting the friend with whom i'm staying

 

thank you, seriously, to everyone who was so kind to reply. if the class turns out to be good, then great! and if it's not so good, at least i'll have gotten to dance.

[scoop]

Hope you'll post again after the Sunday class -- I've always enjoyed BAE when I've gone there, but I haven't been in NYC recently so I don't know if my impressions of the studio are still current. I thought the teachers were very professional and, as others have noted, the classes are quite small so you get a lot of individual corrections. I didn't find that whole annoying Upper East Side thing -- but the classes I went to were usually late-ish on weeknights, so maybe all the princesses were in bed by then!

[disarmedfae]

Hope you'll post again after the Sunday class -- I've always enjoyed BAE when I've gone there, but I haven't been in NYC recently so I don't know if my impressions of the studio are still current. I thought the teachers were very professional and, as others have noted, the classes are quite small so you get a lot of individual corrections. I didn't find that whole annoying Upper East Side thing -- but the classes I went to were usually late-ish on weeknights, so maybe all the princesses were in bed by then! 

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Well, I did it--here's a recap of my foray into the Intro class, if anyone cares.

 

First off, I somehow forgot to pack my leo and tights, so I picked up a new one (never thought I would fit into a Mirella!) at the Capezio store, which was having a fantastic sale. That was Saturday. Today (well, yesterday, I suppose), due to my general anxiety about being on time for new endeavors, I arrived obscenely early at my subway stop, killed some time in a nearby park, and went up to BAE about a half hour before my class. Got some "looks" from the 10-year olds in the dressing room, but I bypassed them and did my changing bit, fixed my hair, and went to wait for the class to start. The place was absolutely full of little ones, but they weren't more than a minor distraction.

 

The facilities were great, quite a change from the wood-floored VFW hall in which my childhood classes were taught. I was the first one to arrive for my class, but 4 others showed up soon after-- there was a girl of about 13 and three other women who looked to be in their 30's and 40's. The class started out with some simple exercises facing the barre but quickly moved on to plies, tendus, the standard exercises. Incidentally, my teacher thought I had previously attended the class and seemed puzzled when I didn't quite "get" my rond de jambes and frappes...once I informed her that this was, in fact, my first class in 7 years, she was quite patient and made sure to modify some of the center exercises for me, in terms of tempo/content. Corrections were plentiful and actions were all explained in relation to their French names-- fondu, glisse, assemble, etc.

 

Although I definitely had some 'moments' (first I found myself at the end of the barre, then I was in the middle, but in such a place that my foot was hitting the 'foot' of the barre...) I could keep up with the class on most everything, and as for some things-- changements and echappes-- I was surprised at how easily they came to me. One thing that was completely frustrating was the disparity between my right and left sides. Since I've been fencing for every waking moment of the past 4.5 years, my left side has been developed considerably more than my right side, which has been terribly neglected. I've always been more flexible and coordinated on my left side-- it is my dominant side after all-- but it was just so bad! My right foot looked like a misshapen blocky thing. It's sad, really. My achilles tendons are also tight, as are my hips, which makes plies and passes and everything else kind of frustrating.

 

However, I had a good experience, though I wish I had been able to start the class from the beginning and take it on a regular basis...I won't be able to make it to another ballet class until I'm home for my break, later this month. Next time I'm in the city for the weekend, though, I'd still really like to take Dena Moss's class @ Joffrey-- I still need to explore my options for the summer! Anyhow, thanks for letting me share, I'm so happy I got to dance today!