no classes!

[spinbug]

Quite a while ago I wrote in about my studio closing and the teacher moving to another state. All this past summer, fall and winter I have driven over an hour each way to take class in another town. At first I could take three classes but the schedule has become too hard and now I'm only taking one a week. To make it worse, the class has very little pointe work, especially since exams are soon and they require no pointe work.

 

I feel so frustrated and sad that my ballet training is slipping. I can tell how weak I've become. I've even tried to set up a time to use the space of another studio in our town (they don't accept adult students) but that has fallen through as well.

 

I've improved so much over the several years I've been studying ballet that I hate to see it go. I love it so much but I don't know what to do. I have kids and husband who I only get to see in the evenings (when most classes are held) and I don't want to have to choose between them.

 

This is just a rant as I know there's not much advice except that if I want it bad enough I have to drive to get it.

But I'm so sad about it!

 

Candi

[Redbookish]

It's never just a rant, Spinbug! It's so unfortunate that you're in this situation, and lots of others on this board feel & know your problem of 'balletlessness.'

 

You mention another studio in your town, which doesn't take adult students. Now you've trained so much more over the last 3 years, might they reconsider? If you weren't a rank beginner & weren't going to take up too much of the 'baby bunheads' time, then maybe you could talk your way in?

 

And I'm sure people who are moee local to you than I am may have other suggestions if you can give your region.

 

Good luck!

[spinbug]

Redbookish, thanks for the kind reply. Actually, I've tried just recently to take class at the studio but the teacher who I talked to isn't giving me a straight answer. Truthfully, I don't think it's because I'm a beginner but perhaps the opposite. She mentioned that her students were just starting pointe and I've been doing it a little while and am more advanced. It's not a problem for me if she lets me do some more difficult steps or perhaps lets me take all of the class in pointe, etc. I don't even mind doing whatever her students are doing just so that I can have a chance to dance.

 

I live in a very small town and I think I'm somewhat of a curiosity because I'm the only adult here to take ballet, and especially different because I do pointe. I don't think it's strange but maybe it's intimidating for a teacher to let an adult take class if they've only taught children. The only classes I've ever taken have been with kids and it doesn't bother me at all.

 

I'm going to try one more time. If that doesn't work, I'll just have to drive a long way.

 

Candi

[Dance_Scholar_London]

Don't give up. Especially in pointe class it should not be too difficult for the teacher to give you a more advanced exercise - at least this is the way it is dealt with in open pointe classes in London.

[Fiz]

I never thought I would say it, but I wish we lived in London again! No ballet for adults at all round here, the teacher that does private classes is still booked up and she agrees that a two hour drive for a one hour class when I'm rushing round here, there and everywhere for my daughter's classes is not much use! Fiz. xxx

[Dance_Scholar_London]

Where abouts do you live in the UK, Fiz? I understand your frustation - I will go abroad for a couple of weeks and there will be NO classes at all during this time, as most schools are closed for Easter vacation.

[Tara7038]

The classes at ENB for adult are really good. There term runs for 10 weeks and there a four terms a year. So my classes finished with Morley College last week but they start up again with ENB next week.

 

Tara

[spinbug]

Don't give up. Especially in pointe class it should not be too difficult for the teacher to give you a more advanced exercise - at least this is the way it is dealt with in open pointe classes in London.

 

Well, I just called every studio within 30min. driving distance from my house. We'll see what happens. I love ballet, it feeds something in me that few other things do and it has helped me get in shape like nothing else has since I have so much motivation to do it. I would take class everyday if there was a studio close so I wouldn't need to drive so much. Alas, despite it's endearment to me, I love my family more and need to be with them. I still have hope that there is a solution to be found.

 

We'll see what happens. Please keep rooting for me!

 

Candi

[Redbookish]

Good luck, Spinbug & keep us posted. We're thinking ballet thoughts for you from all around the world!

[Fiz]

Our nearest towns are Royston or Stevenage. Stevenage doesn't appear to have any ballet schools at all but lots of tap and line dancing (A few months ago, for a couple of wonderful weeks, somebody replaced the Steve with Chav, so it read 'Chavanage' and it is sooo appropriate!!! Royston does no adult ballet and neither does Bishop' s Stortford, which are all about half an hour's drive away. Harlow and Cambridge do it, but it's an hour there and an hour back - I'd like to see my husband and daughter too! Good luck, Spinbug! Fiz. xxx

[Dance_Scholar_London]

Fiz, I understand that you don't like to travel, but most people in London travel quite a lot to get to work and/or ballet classes (1h or more one way). Maybe you can have ONE ballet evening per week?

[Tara7038]

Oh DSL I can second that although I do work in London and take class also. I live in Gillingham in Kent. I work 8.30am to 4.30pm but on a class evening the earliest I get home is 9.30pm. Also on a Sunday, I have class and rehersals in Uxbridge which is at least 2hrs each way.

 

Tara

[Fiz]

DSL, I do understand what you mean, but there is no public transport to anywhere from where I live and it means driving. I hate driving in Cambridge - there are one way systems everywhere - I'm always in a state by the time I get there, or home again and I haven't even tried Harlow! Oh well, Philippa has promised to ring me when she has a free space. I wish I had known there was adult ballet earlier - I could have gone when we lived in St. Albans and I definitely wouldn't have moved here! Fiz. xxx

[Guest sally-mandy]

Spinbug, is it financially possible for you to have some private lessons?

 

I live in a small town, too, and I only know two other women my age group who study ballet. Hope you can convince the teacher in town to let you in there. Good luck.

[spinbug]

Spinbug, is it financially possible for you to have some private lessons?

 

I live in a small town, too, and I only know two other women my age group who study ballet. Hope you can convince the teacher in town to let you in there. Good luck.

 

 

Sally Mandy, yes, I can afford private lessons but nowone in town here teaches them. I've contacted a person in the town I take class and I may be able to take private lessons during the day which would be ideal for me. I have more time in the morning than I do in the afternoon. Thanks for responding to my post-sounds like you have a similar situation in that there are few adults who study ballet. I really don't mind classes with the kids, though, if they'd only let me in.

 

So far, not one studio has called me since I left messages with them three days ago. Not a single one!

 

Candi