negative evaluation

[luvpointe7]

Recently I had a conference with my ballet teachers to discuss options after high school. My ballet teachers were fairly negative. One teacher said I could be more successful in another area. The other teacher said with a lot of work, I could be successful in ballet. The said I was too weak and had "long, soft muscles."

I also talked to my old ballet teacher who has known me for a couple years. My old ballet teacher said that my teachers I had conferenced with were wrong to be so dismissive. My old ballet teacher said she would work with me to gain strength and prove to these teachers that I can do ballet.

I am trying to make sense of this...any input or thoughts would be much appreciated.

[Victoria Leigh]

Luvpointe, correct me if I am wrong, but it looks to me, from reading previous posts, like you must going into your senior year of high school and turning 18 in Oct. You are in a pre-pro school, and have a good schedule of daily classes. How long have you been at this school? Are you in the top level at this school? Do they have performances and if so, are you cast in good roles? These things are important to know before even attempting to answer your question.

[vrsfanatic]

It is difficult to advise you without more information luvballet7. It would be helpful if you could say how long you have been studying ballet, how many days a week and whether or not you feel you have attended professional ballet programs or local dancing schools. Why do you not continue to study with your "previous" teacher and why not return to that teacher? It is always best to work with people who believe in you.

 

Sorry, I was posting at the same time as Ms. Leigh. The answers to her questions are more current than mine.

Edited August 12, 2010 by vrsfanatic

[luvpointe7]

I have been studying ballet at mediocre local ballet studios for 4 years (from 7th through 10th grades). I found one very good teacher who teaches small classes a couple days a week. This teacher gave me a good base in ballet technique and I studied with her, in addition to local studios, from 9th grade through the present. This teacher is whom I credit most of my ballet training to. I have attended summer programs at The Kirov Academy, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and the Joffrey. My dance schedule in the fall is being revised right now, as I am deciding which studio to attend. The schedule will for sure include at least one ballet technique and pointe technique class, 6 days a week. Also 1-2 variations classes a week, one jazz and one modern class a week.

I am in the top level of a pre-pro school, but am not the strongest in the class.

[Victoria Leigh]

Okay, so you are now already in a pre-pro school or will be starting there in the fall? Were you there this summer and this is the school where the faculty was not as positive as you had hoped? If so, do you feel that the reasons for this might be because of your previous training, or is there some physical reason why you are not as strong as they would like you to be? Could it simply be that you have not had a pre-pro type schedule in the past, and that you just need a bit more time to catch up? It's important to figure out why they said what they did. Did they tell you anything more than that you are weak and have long soft muscles? Do they not feel that the muscles can, with the proper work, become stronger? Did they know you came from local training which might not have given you the amount of work needed?

 

I'm sorry to ask so many questions, but at your age, it's important to know these things.

[luvpointe7]

I have been in a prepro for one year and will be starting my second in the fall. I have not had as rigorous a schedule until my sophmore year of high school. Yet, even with more hours sophmore year, I was training at a more recreational studio. I was there this summer. It was at the prepro studio that the teachers were very negative about my professional possibilities. I think that I am weak because I have not had a lot of professional training and need more rigorous training. My teachers sounded like they were not sure whether I could develop the strength necessary at my age, but they did say with a lot of work it would be possible.

[Victoria Leigh]

Okay, then all you can do now is work as hard as you can and try to develop the strength you need to catch up. It may take you longer than students who have had more training for a longer period of time.

[luvpointe7]

Thank you. I appreciate the advice. Do you think I should continue training at the pre pro where I recieved the harsh evaluation? My other option is a studio that is very good, with supportive teachers, but is still somewhat recreational. Both options offer technique and pointe daily.

[Clara 76]

It depends upon what your goals are for the future, luvpointe7.

[luvpointe7]

my goal is to dance with a ballet or more realistically a contemporary company.

[Victoria Leigh]

Are there enough students your age and level at the former school for the classes to be as strong and as advanced as you need? I'm surprised to hear that the schedule would be the same, as most smaller schools do not have daily tech. and pointe. I think at this point in time you need to decide where you will have the training that will take you where you want to go. If the quality and quantity are the same, then you could study at either school. If not, then the choice is obvious.

[luvpointe7]

Thank you ms. Leigh