Guest Shdwdrgn Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 When I started getting a nervous twitch in my leg, I took up doing leg stretches before bed each night. It's done wonders for my flexibility, and I no longer have problems with my leg. I would like to continue stretching, but think I may be twisting my back with the way I do it. To add to this, I've always felt real stiff when it comes to dancing, but my wife loves to dance with me. I just feel like a klutz, and am not very sure of my step. I'm 37 years old, and it seems like I should be able to do better than this by now. I have a very natural tendancy to stand on my toes (demi-point?), and can walk around for quite some time like this. Because of everything combined, I have recently been thinking that maybe an adult ballet class might be useful to me. Learn some good stretching techniques, learn how to smooth out my motions and (possibly?) learn some grace in movement, and potentially even become less self-concious about dancing in general. So, based on all of this, does anyone think ballet sounds right for me? Will it help me learn any of the above, or am I already a hopeless case? And if I do take a class, is there anything else I can hope to learn from it? Quote Link to comment
Joseph11 Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 Yes! Yes! and Yes! I am 43 and started ballet last year. It has done wonders for my flexbility and strengthened muscles I did not even know I had. In addition, I am more confident on a dance floor, and have even developed some gracefulness. These are just some of the many gifts you will give yourself if you take the chance to dance. You are never too old to start ballet in my opinion, and the only regret you'll have is not taking the chance! Best of luck. Quote Link to comment
Dick Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 What you will learn is one thing; but the sensation, the feeling of it, aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh ! This is what is going to make you stick to it. And age is not a factor: I was 48 when I started, I was as stiff as a bar (I could'nt reach my toes with my fingers without bending my knees) and I didn't have no dance basics at all. I am now 54, I dance solo, I perform pas de deux and I still can't see the end of it. Have a good time. Dick Quote Link to comment
2 Left Feet Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Barretalk is a good source for adult dance classes in Colorado. He's working on the road right now but could be back on line in a few days. Quote Link to comment
MJ Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Have no fear, Shdwdrgn. The good thing about Ballet is the minimal up front investment: 20 dollars for shoes. You will want to get your hands (or your important parts) on a dance belt. If you feel "this is cool" during at least one part of your first class, consider it a succesful class and plan a=on taking more. Good luck and post often! _MJ Quote Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 The guys are right! Adult men take ballet for all sorts of reasons, and physical fitness is right at the top of the list. Press on! No fear! Quote Link to comment
davidg Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Ballet is right for you if your mind and soul latch on to it and you want to spend all your waking hours dancing. If you can take it or leave it, eventually you'll leave it. The only way to find out is to try. But if the loved ones in your life ever wonder why you spend all your evenings in the studio away from them, just remember.... YOU'VE BEEN WARNED! Quote Link to comment
BarreTalk Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Barretalk is a good source for adult dance classes in Colorado. He's working on the road right now but could be back on line in a few days. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> On the road, but not out of touch! So, what did I miss? Seriously (or as seriously as I ever am)... Shdwdrgn, where do you live in Colorado? I live in Boulder, but take class in Lakewood. Quote Link to comment
Guest Shdwdrgn Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 Shdwdrgn, where do you live in Colorado? I live in Boulder, but take class in Lakewood. I'm in Longmont. Looks like there is one class here in town, however they start on the 3rd. Don't think I'm going to be in time for that one. Quote Link to comment
Garyecht Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 I’ll chime in too. I think if you have any sense of music and movement (and I don’t mean having a high level sense), I think dance is an ideal “old man” activity. I didn’t start dancing until age 50 (I’m 61) so I know it’s doable. My only advice is to know in advance that you are going to develop skill much more slowly than you might expect and will probably be toward the bottom of relative ability in most of the classes you take. You can react to that in one of two ways. One way is to feel bad about it (we males tend to be competitive) and to give up. The second way is to accept it and concentrate on improving your skill level and enjoying classes as they are, essentially ignoring the other people in class. Clearly I recommend following the second path. The second thing I would encourage is to try as many different dance forms as you can. Everyone at Ballet Alert obviously thinks well of ballet and recommends it for everyone. But I think it is more important for people to experience different things and find what you like, whatever that might be. Having said that, I do think ballet class is the single best “basic dance skills” activity. Quote Link to comment
BarreTalk Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 I'm in Longmont. Looks like there is one class here in town, however they start on the 3rd. Don't think I'm going to be in time for that one. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You might consider dropping into today's class just to observe, then join them for the next class. Don't worry about being dressed correctly for your first class. Socks are too slippery to be good substitutes for ballet shoes, but are good enough to get you through your first barre. I have no idea how good the adult program is in Longmont, but you might also investigate classes in Boulder at the Boulder Arts Academy http://boulderartsacademy.org/dance/ Wherever you end up dancing, please mentally commit yourself to taking class at least a couple times a week for three months to see if ballet is right for you. I've seen too many adult beginners get discouraged after a couple of classes when they realize they won't be dancing the Cavalier role anytime soon. Learning ballet is possible but the initial learning curve is steep. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. Quote Link to comment
Guest Shdwdrgn Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 I do plan on dropping by after work tonight, although it looks like I won't have the cash on hand this month to be doing much of anything except paying the bills. Ah well... Yes I understand slow learning processes. It took almost two years of running my own server before I really started to 'get' linux. I am also juggling my time between my other hobbies - building a trailer big enough to haul my trebuchet (largest in the state, woo-hoo!), and designing/building an endmill from scratch. Yes, I'm very eclectic! Anyway, I don't have any expectations of being a break-away natural dancer, and I'm certainly not expecting to in any performances (horrible stage-fright, and all that). What I *am* hoping for is to learn enough that I can let go, let myself move freely, without questioning every step I take. If that takes some years of practice and learning some routines, that's fine by me. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement. Seems like this will be a good choice, if I can just get started. Quote Link to comment
2 Left Feet Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 I do plan on dropping by after work tonight, although it looks like I won't have the cash on hand this month to be doing much of anything except paying the bills. Ah well... Not neccessarily a problem. Some schools are so desperate for men they don't charge them for their classes. They have them take partnering classes so their pre-professional students can study pas de deux. The universe is conspiring to get you to class one way or another. Quote Link to comment
Guest Shdwdrgn Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 The universe is conspiring to get you to class one way or another. You're not paranoid if they really *are* out to get you! Quote Link to comment
olddude Posted January 5, 2006 Report Share Posted January 5, 2006 .... I just feel like a klutz, and am not very sure of my step. I'm 37 years old, and it seems like I should be able to do better than this by now.... So, based on all of this, does anyone think ballet sounds right for me? Will it help me learn any of the above, or am I already a hopeless case? And if I do take a class, is there anything else I can hope to learn from it? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Since there are escalating claims of "I started even later than HIM", I have to jump in with 56 as my starting age. I know there are many later starters, too - so no sweat about the "already a hopeless case" business! It works for me. My flexibility is somewhat improved, posture much improved, **much** less embarassed about native clumsiness. Best of all, my wife appreciates the changes even more than I do. Makes your life better, makes your wife admire you more, improves you health and conditioning, gives you an artistic outlet - what's not to like?! Quote Link to comment
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