I need help with dance.

[dibdabson]

Hi forum,

 

Im a male dancer who is very serious about developing all types of jazz primarily through ballet, to improve my jazz/contemporary work while at the same time still having a strong foundation of ballet if needed. I currently need too work out a schedule too get my self into shape for the whole dance thing, and my diet is so pathetically bad.

My ONLY problem is that right now I attend a theatre school, and our ballet lessons are 45 minutes long :\. I can always make it too a dance class in ballet on any day of the week. Long story short I seriously want too improve my dancing on a whole.

 

I need help developing fitness because right now im slightly over the dancers weight. and I also want too improve flexibilty, and maybe hip mobility because lately I have had a hip ache. so if anyone here could develop me some sort of timetable for dance bearing in mind I can attend any type of dance classes on any evenings,

 

Mondays:

free

Tuesdays:

Free

wednesdays:

free

thursdays:

free

fridays:

free

saturdays:

free

sundays

Theatre school

 

also do grades really matter in the world of dance?

and what should I be aiming for in my diet?

I have access to a gym, If anyone has the time too respond too this question I will be ever so thankful

and also should I attend intermediate classes, I mean I have been doing ballet for 1 year 53 lessons of 45 minutes basically, i dont want too label myself as a beginner anymore,

 

Thank you ever so much

 

Billy Mitchell

14 year old male dancer

[Mel Johnson]

Hi, Billy .

 

What you need now are dedicated ballet classes at a regular ballet school. It sounds like what you've been taking are introductory classes directed at musical theatre students, who have to be generalists. As such, you don't get time in these classes to explore a lot of basic material vital to ballet. For example, I don't like the sound of a fourteen-year-old with aching hips. The pain may be related to trying to force turnout without training in rotation of the femur in the hipjoint. You'd get that in a regular course of study at a good ballet school. I'd advise against a lot of gym training if what you want to do is improve ballet technique. Nothing improves ballet like more ballet! Gym is good cross-training, but doesn't build better ballet. On the other hand, ballet helps gymnastics, but the versa is not vice. Go to a regular ballet school and let them guide you as to your appropriate competency level (beginner, intermediate, etc.). I wouldn't start a crash course of everyday ballet class immediately. You need time to build in technique, flexibility and strength. Three classes per week, each 90 minutes long, should be a good start.

 

You should be aiming at a normal balanced diet as advised by your regular physician.

 

And while grades in themselves don't really matter in ballet, they can affect other issues relating to training. You don't want a reputation of being a slacker, or a dummy, for example. Also, you don't want to give your parents ammunition so they can say, "No ballet until your grades come up!" (also known as "The whippings will continue until morale improves!")

 

Keep in touch via this forum, and others. We'll try to help you as time goes by.

[dibdabson]

Thanks for this, I'll see about gettinjg into a proper ballet school; although in the united kingdom dance is a much less recognised thing and it's hard, but i'll manage. And yes, I was thinking using the gym for cardio and core strength as im constantly reminded its the most important thing.

Yes my hip has gave me a great deal of concern, Ever since I started dancing i've been worrying about it so much the point i've actually started too feel imaginary pain because I believe it's there? but in a class i am fine and always have been until about 3 days ago when i was rehearsing and I kicked it out too the side and felt a little ache?

But I was scared too go to a doctor because I don't want too be told ''stop dancing'' which is what alot of doctors do in this day & age, for it's a passion of mine now.

 

Hi, Billy .

 

What you need now are dedicated ballet classes at a regular ballet school. It sounds like what you've been taking are introductory classes directed at musical theatre students, who have to be generalists. As such, you don't get time in these classes to explore a lot of basic material vital to ballet. For example, I don't like the sound of a fourteen-year-old with aching hips. The pain may be related to trying to force turnout without training in rotation of the femur in the hipjoint. You'd get that in a regular course of study at a good ballet school. I'd advise against a lot of gym training if what you want to do is improve ballet technique. Nothing improves ballet like more ballet! Gym is good cross-training, but doesn't build better ballet. On the other hand, ballet helps gymnastics, but the versa is not vice. Go to a regular ballet school and let them guide you as to your appropriate competency level (beginner, intermediate, etc.). I wouldn't start a crash course of everyday ballet class immediately. You need time to build in technique, flexibility and strength. Three classes per week, each 90 minutes long, should be a good start.

 

You should be aiming at a normal balanced diet as advised by your regular physician.

 

And while grades in themselves don't really matter in ballet, they can affect other issues relating to training. You don't want a reputation of being a slacker, or a dummy, for example. Also, you don't want to give your parents ammunition so they can say, "No ballet until your grades come up!" (also known as "The whippings will continue until morale improves!")

 

Keep in touch via this forum, and others. We'll try to help you as time goes by.

[Mel Johnson]

From what you've told me, the chances are stacked AGAINST the hip pain being false. See your doctor. Rest is a recommended treatment for pain, and all of us have had to go through that in order to keep the instrument-body in good working order.

 

That you experience pain when placing the leg to the side further reinforces my impression of a problem with rotation. Correct ballet training will eliminate that.

[dibdabson]

The hip pain has gone and there's currently only click every night and again when I chamber a kick (which isn't required much in ballet) I keep talking about wanting to get better, but I can never find the right way, Im considering getting one on one tuition because my ballet theory is terrible and my theatre school has a show coming up. I signed up too the gym and go for a lot of runs and am on a somewhat healthy diet, i work alot on flexibility etc, etc, Have you got any tips for me remembering a routine beause when we go across the floor I have a lot of trouble remembering properly.

 

And also will 1 on 1 be very beneficial? because the price is very high, Due to the studio renting

 

Thanks

[Mel Johnson]

No, popping joints are commonplace in dance, and unless they are accompanied by pain, don't usually signify anything of importance.

 

Now, as to private class, I'd advise against it as a cost-effective means of covering class material. Beginning teen dancers find the best results from group classes with their peers, or failing that, with the proficiency level one above them. Private tutoring and coaching is for finite goals like show material, or even examination syllabi.

[dibdabson]

No, popping joints are commonplace in dance, and unless they are accompanied by pain, don't usually signify anything of importance.

 

Now, as to private class, I'd advise against it as a cost-effective means of covering class material. Beginning teen dancers find the best results from group classes with their peers, or failing that, with the proficiency level one above them. Private tutoring and coaching is for finite goals like show material, or even examination syllabi.

 

Thing is my training have high hopes for me and I'm with more able male ballet dancers, and I can't request to be moved down because I was, and they decided to put me back up, but he speaks all this French and the guys know what to do, but I have not a clue and so I'm having to interpret it from what I see. It's very hard!

[Mel Johnson]

Learning dance with which one is unfamiliar is always difficult. Just from the way you're communicating, I am led to believe that you need a more formal, rigorous ballet school, even if your goal is to transfer eventually to jazz or musical theatre dance.