benefits of giving yourself class?

[balletboyrhys]

I just finished my fall semester of my junior year as a dance major at Southern Methodist University and received very good feedback in my semester evaluation. All of my teachers noted a large improvement in my dancing this semester and encouraged me to continue working the way I am. I was thrilled to get such positive feedback (evaluations can be pretty stressful...) and i'm anxious to keep on improving and really focus on the feedback i received. Unfortunately, since the semester is over, I have a substantial break from daily ballet classes. Our winter break lasts about a month and a half and i honestly just want to keep on dancing. I could take drop in classes at a few local studios, but I'm a poor college student and cant really afford more than one or two a week which is pretty worthless in comparison to the 6 or 7 hours a day i'm used to dancing. I thought it might be a good idea to give myself ballet classes over the break because I know that the studios at school will be open and no one will be around who needs the space. I was thinking I would give myself a short warmup and a pretty thorough barre (plies, tendus in 1 and 5, degage, ronde de jambe, fondue, frappe, adagio, battement) and then work on specific combinations i can remember from various classes I've taken recently while taking time to stop and work on anything I feel needs improvement. I've never really worked on my own like this, apart from stretching and dancing around the house, but that hardly counts. I wouldnt hesitate to do it while i was still taking class, but i was thinking that if I only take class from myself for a month, i might further develop bad habits that i already have. i'd like to think that i have a pretty thorough understanding about the mechanics of ballet technique and how it should feel when done correctly, but i would hate to actually stop improving because of working on my own. so what do you guys think? is it worth it to give myself a few classes a week to work on areas i know need focus, or should i just give my body a break and take the break off? Oh and on top of that theres an audition for a work being staged by arthur mitchell in the spring after we get back from break, and i really want to do well and be in shape for it, so I have yet more incentive to try to find a way to dance over the break. Any ideas?

[Clara 76]

I think it's time to get creative. Any chance those studios will offer a University discount? Some schools do if you can show a valid student ID.

 

What about offering some skill of yours in return? Perhaps a holiday job?? Gift wrapping???

 

I think 6 weeks is an awfully long time to go without that 3rd eye...

[Victoria Leigh]

Being able to work on your own, once you are at an advanced level, is a very valuable tool to have. However, I agree with Clara 76 that doing that for 6 weeks is too long! Try to find a way to get as many classes as you can, offer to do pas de deux classes or something, anything you can do.

[balletboyrhys]

What if I took one open class per week and supplemented that with a few days a week working on my own? That way I would still be getting feedback from a teacher about how i'm dancing.

[Victoria Leigh]

Better than no class, but still, I think you need more than one class a week. Find a way.

[biners6]

I know how you feel! I have the same problem over breaks, although ours aren't as long. Usually I'm at home, so I'll take class at my high school studio as long as they're open (I usually get out earlier than they do), and my old teacher lets me do that for free, which is very nice. Then, I'll do a mix of class on my own, open classes in the area (usually there is a college student discount!), and work out on my own on the elliptical, etc (I find that cross-training is actually very helpful, and I don't have as much time to do it during the semester!). Usually when school comes back, I feel rested and only slightly out of shape, since I still stay on a schedule of not taking more than one day off from exercising a week. Hope that helps!

[Mel Johnson]

But also recall that taking two weeks this time of year just plain OFF is a good idea, too. You do need time to recharge, but six is rather too much. Take two weeks, regenerate, THEN start back.

[OperaDeParis]

I'm a dance student and I dance 6 days a week. We have a two week break for the holidays but then right after is audition season for summer programs. I'm a little confused as to whether I should take a two week break because I've had a very long semester and my body probably needs some rest or like balletboyrhys I should give myself classes so I can be in shape for auditions. One of the places I really want to go to this summer has their auditions like right after the break. Thanks for any advice

[Victoria Leigh]

I would take a week off, and then do a few classes the second week. Not necessarily every day. There is usually at least a week of regular classes prior to the first audition. Is that the case this year?

[OperaDeParis]

Oopsies. I just realized that I wasn't allowed to comment in this forum because I'm not 17-22. But to answer your question Ms. leigh, yes we do have a week of regular classes before the audition. Thank you for your advice:)