New Trend...

[spinbug]

I've noticed a new trend recently and wanted some of your opinions. As adult ballet classes are becoming more and more popular I'm noticing ballet basics offered as an excercise class at wellness centers, alongside yoga classes which have been established at these centers a little longer. Perhaps offering classes in this venue, as opposed to an already established dance studio, appeals to adults who might be intimidated by the traditional ballet studio setting. If taught by a qualified and experienced teacher I see this as an advantage in getting your non traditional student involved in something they might not ever venture into, namely beginning adults, the elderly, and quite frankly, men (I see lots of men at wellness and fitness centers but rarely at a ballet studio, at least in our area ). A class like this might go a long way to dispell the myth about ballet being only for the very thin, lithe, adolescent girls we picture so readily in our minds eye. Such a myth is like saying that only very large and muscled men may ever play football since that's what the professionals and college athletes look like. Hey, I've played flag football lots of times and I'm nothing of the sort. Rather enjoyed it, in fact.

 

Any thoughts?

[Redbookish]

It's a great development, in my opinion. I haven't seen it here, although my gym offers Pilates and a combination of yoga, stretch, & Pilates. Maybe the popularity of th NYCB workout tapes is part of the "fashion"? But whatever gets people hooked ...

[ripresa]

Hello Spinbug

 

Thank you for your lovely welcome.

 

About those fusion dance classes.. Ballet Austin (where I take classes) have new classes called: BalletFit and BroadwayFit.

 

I haven't taken them, but supposedly they're really fun, in broadwayfit you actually learn broadway dances at the end. I'm not sure about BalletFit.

 

Here's BA's Community school schedule for this semester.

http://www.balletaustin.org/academy/sch_open_07_08.php

 

I think it's a good way to expose people to dance.. I know so many adults who have a desire to dance but think they can't. I think humans were born to dance!

[Chinafish]

What I'm concerned about is that wellness centres (I think it's the same thing as gyms here?! Ones where there are treadmills and weights and stuff? I know to you all across the pond gym means a big hall?!) might not have appropriate flooring.

 

The gym that my company subscribes to has a "dance studio" which they hold their yoga classes in. There is a mirror and a barre but the floor is POLISHED wood. VERY slippery. I wouldn't want to do a dance class in there!

 

I wonder how many of these wellness centres out there provide good flooring for dance purposes?

 

I'm all for the idea though, they must have good changing and shower facilities.

 

Fish

[airchild]

Hi, over here in Hong Kong, I have also heard about some ballet fitness classes held at gyms. There are also jazz/funk classes for the purpose of "burning fat" - these seem to be really popular!

 

A friend said she had tried a ballet class at a local gym but they teach pirouettes and jumps and was too advanced for beginners! In any case, it is a good development in that people who don't normally think of dancing as an exercise now have a chance to try it out and those who like the music and movements may pick up a life-long hobby along the way.

 

I remember joining the NYCB ballet workout class in New York when it came out, and really had a lot of fun! The teacher was terrific! The NYCB has really developed a wonderful program and because the exercises do not involve jumps, the fact that the gym floor isn't sprung doesn't really matter so much, I guess. And most of the exercises were actually done on a yoga mat (a lot of floorbarre). However, if some of those ballet programs at gyms involve turns and jumps, then a non-slippery sprung studio floor is necessary and I'm afraid that's where the risk of injury lies because of the lack of knowledge of gym operators.

[ami1436]

I've seen these classes here - like 'ballet fit' or so - usually they don't involve much in centre at all, but incorporate some ballet moves at the barre with very simple, low impact aerobics and some pilates and yoga.

[citibob]

I'm confused about this thread. Are we talking about beginner ballet classes at wellness centers. Or about ballet-derived fitness classes at wellness centers? Or are different people talking about different things?

 

If we're talking about ballet classes, I believe that's a really good thing. There are not nearly enough ballet institutions around --- including non-profit and for-profit studios --- to provide enough beginner classes in the even that there's ever more than miniscule interest in ballet among adults. My one concern would be that these programs are certified, just like Pilates and so many other wellness-center programs that have reached mass market.

 

The floor is another issue: please remember that (1) the surface of the floor, whether marlee or wood, is different from the degree of resilience it has for jumps, and (2) although sprung floors are the best, non-sprung floors vary greatly in their resilience and some are rather OK for ballet. Marlee-covered sprung floors are a great thing, but they have only become near-universal in the last few years --- certainly since I was a child.

[spinbug]

I'm speaking particularly about beginner adult classes that borrow a room in a wellness center and offered as part of their membership services.

 

I guess flooring is something I didn't even consider. It makes sense that the floors should be appropriate but I would think that they are since the room is also where they have aerobics classes. But, jumping in tennis shoes vs. ballet slippers is quite a contrast, isn't it? Shoes have built in cushioning.

 

 

 

Edited to remove unnecessary quoting of entire previous post.

Edited April 16, 2008 by Redbookish

[Laschwen]

I have not seen any ballet derived classes or ballet classes in my town, but it is a smallish town.

After doing the Water exercise class at the YMCA for a while and finding I can practically turn it into a barre in the water I got an idea about how we should call it something ballet derived or have another class that is called something ballet-esque since my class is really for Arthritis sufferers or those with Fibromyalgia. Of course if I asked they would want me to teach it and I would not consider myself properly qualified.

If we did have a ballet-fit sort of class in a proper room at the YMCA I would probably go regularly but still be disappointed at the same time if it wasn't the real thing. I would definitely want a qualified ballet teacher there too.

There is a probably qualified room that is new here. I am just not sure about the floor. It is wood and was made for aerobic classes and Pilates or Yoga only a few years ago. It is possible that it could be sprung????

 

This is all good stuff to consider.

 

Laschwen

[spinbug]

Laschwen, I've also had that concern about the qualifications of the instructor.

 

Unfortunately, we don't have anyone near our small town that I would considered qualified, either. So, the option is 1)have a ballet class for adults who would otherwise have nothing in the form of ballet fitness with what I would consider less than qualified, but perfectly adequate, teacher or 2)have no ballet class at all for those adults who are asking for one and can't drive the two hours to the nearest town that has an adult class.

 

There are a lot of downsides, if you want to look at it as a downside. Like less than perfect flooring, a smaller than desired space and an inexperienced, albeit passionate, teacher. But, I'm still left wondering if it might not be something worth looking into. There are a lot of people interested in it and the only ballet studio in town is known more for it's clogging and jazz and is not strong on ballet. The owner has shown no interest in any ballet classes for adults, either, as she has her schedule very full with the students she already has.

 

Laschwen, there might be people in your area that are qualified and would teach if they knew there was an interest. You could even put an add in the paper requesting for someone qualified to call you, or the wellness center. I think that might be a good idea for me, too if I ever decided to get a class started.

[Laschwen]

I had another thought.

I (or any of us) could ask one of my current teachers if they or someone they know who lives closer to my town or might drive to my town for an adult class somewhere.

The one studio I go to just brought in a new teacher from even further away to take over some classes while they have someone out on maternity leave. I should meet him in class tonight. Maybe they don't know anyone after all????

Actually there is a new studio in town I keep forgetting about where there might be something. With gas prices as they are I should have looked there ages ago...for something to add to be ready for dance camp at least. Going 3 times a week to studios 26 and 34 miles away is getting pricey. Going 4 or 5 times next month is starting to look costlier than ever.

 

You are giving me ideas now.

 

Laschwen

[citibob]

I believe that student-organized adult classes can be a great idea. If there are no ballet classes in your area, but you can find other interested students, a studio and a teacher --- then you can get them all together for a class. Plenty of teachers would be willing to teach such a class if asked --- and if they're guaranteed a particular pay and they don't have to arrange it, just show up and teach.

 

You don't have to be a ballet expert to get this together, you just have to be good at organizing things and willing/able to take the (relatively modest) financial risks involved in renting a studio and guaranteeing a teacher's pay.

[premaballrina]

I teach a class called "Ballet Body" at the gym I own and manage which is a fusion of ballet and pilates. The women love it, and there is no dance experience needed! We start out with floor exercises and stretches on the mat, and gradually graduate to basic ballet movements such as plies, releves, and tendus towards the end of the class. This class promotes a long, lean body focusing primarily on core strength!

[spinbug]

I believe that student-organized adult classes can be a great idea. If there are no ballet classes in your area, but you can find other interested students, a studio and a teacher --- then you can get them all together for a class. Plenty of teachers would be willing to teach such a class if asked --- and if they're guaranteed a particular pay and they don't have to arrange it, just show up and teach.

 

You don't have to be a ballet expert to get this together, you just have to be good at organizing things and willing/able to take the (relatively modest) financial risks involved in renting a studio and guaranteeing a teacher's pay.

 

 

Sadly, no teachers interested in teaching adult ballet in our area. I have to drive to another town to take class. I might be able to arrange some teachers to drive here but probably only for a weeklong seminar which wouldn't be appropriate for adult students who have never even stepped foot in a studio. It would be a little overwhelming for them. Yes, there is a studio here but there is only one teacher and she is very busy. Unfortunately, ballet also isn't her real strength. She is more into modern, jazz and tap.

[citibob]

That's too bad. :-( Maybe time to launch a marketing campaign to recruit bright young qualified ballet teachers to your area? (OK, I'm getting more and more outlandish).