Sorry September

[Balletlove]

I just realised that there was no thread, so started this one

[Merry]

My class which was supposed to restart today after the summer hols didn't! It's going to have to be next Friday. *sigh*

[GameDamsel]

I seem to have picked up a niggling foot injury in my right foot. I think it's tendonitis, in the tendons on top of the foot going to the 2nd, 3rd & 4th toes (this is what it feels like, anyway). I guess it started towards the end of my summer intensive week at the beginning of August... I've been icing it when it's sore/swollen, and taking anti-inflammatories, both of which help a lot. But I just don't think I've been resting it enough, I keep thinking it's alright and going to class, and then it's sore again afterwards.

 

So unfortunately, I think September is going to have to be my official Month of Resting My Foot: no ballet, no high-impact exercise at all, just some swimming. Fortunately I'm going on a 2-week holiday to Spain this Friday, so that'll be an easy opportunity to give it plenty of rest !

 

But I am rather sad & frustrated that after my week-long intensive of 4.5 hours a day of ballet - which I LOVED and felt like I got such a boost to my technique - I've got this set back and will probably get really rusty by October

[Skittl1321]

Wanna know something stupid that's really hard? Doing barre while facing it and holding it with both hands. I took a super beginner class today and got corrected on where my hands go at least 3 times. I kept moving them- I've never done both hands on the barre before.

 

Also- after doing splits we "gracefully" got off the floor- crossing your foot over and pushing yourself up without your hands. I couldn't do it. That's embarassing...

[Sellen]

I can sympathize with that, some teacher I had would do some stretches and what not then have us get up with crossing one leg over and hoisting yourself up without touching the floor with hands or sticking your rear end out.. yeeeah, that did not happen for me most of the time

[Swiss_Chard]

After two years of not being even able to take a ballet class, I finally get to post about taking class again. But sadly, it is to complain. I have moved to another country, where there is ballet, however, all the adult class seem to be offered only once a week, and every studio seems to offer them on Wednesday evenings. I was hoping to cobble something together where I could go at least twice a week, but it's looking less and less likely. Oh well, I suppose it's better than nothing. I was also hoping to be able to try out classes before committing to one place, but they all seem to want me to commit to 8 weeks up front. Now I just need to actually choose a place and sign up.

[Serendipity]

Will they let you watch a class before you commit? If so, I'd recommend that.

 

Have had similar problems here - most of the adult classes are either in the mornings or on the same days, or both, at various studios. I can only get an adult class once a week. So I dance with children.

 

Do you think the studios might let you go in with teens on other days?

[swantobe]

The bane of many a female ballet student's life, at least if you have feet like mine: pointe shoes. I'm still struggling to find shoes that a.) work for me and b.) last a reasonable length of time. I'm still so angry about my (new) pointe shoes dying in my exam!

The husband is also not very impressed with the short life of my pointe shoes recently and my continuous problems with them, owing to the cost.

 

Nevertheless, I will keep persevering with the shoes and I'm sure I'll find a solution for me.

[Skittl1321]

Good luck with that swantobe- I can't imagine how frustrating not being able to find shoes must be.

[Balletlove]

Also- after doing splits we "gracefully" got off the floor- crossing your foot over and pushing yourself up without your hands. I couldn't do it. That's embarassing...

Is it actually possible to get up gracefully off the floor after doing splits????

[millvillemurphs]

It is indeed possible to get up gracefully from splits as skitl1321 describes - but it's not easy and it's certainly not something that I would expect to be asked of "an absolute beginners class". The idea of asking for such a thing from beginners raises a red flag for me .

[Skittl1321]

The idea of asking for such a thing from beginners raises a red flag for me .

 

Well the two beginners did it just fine- neither needed to use their hands. I was just stuck down there like a beached whale.

 

However, it just seems to be a leg strength thing. I asked my husband to try it (not the splits- starting from having pulled your legs in already), and he was able to cross the leg over and stand up no problem at all. It wasn't exactly graceful, but he wasn't too wobbly.

 

So I don't see a red flag in asking for it. Maybe requiring it- but when it was clear I wouldn't be able to do it, the teacher gave me a hand.

[millvillemurphs]

Ah, got it. I think it's the idea of asking for splits from "absolute beginners" more so than the getting up aspect that concerns me - but then again, the teacher has the ability to see the students and their flexibility and determine what they might or might not be able to do - I certainly don't .

[Skittl1321]

Ah, got it. I think it's the idea of asking for splits from "absolute beginners" more so than the getting up aspect that concerns me - but then again, the teacher has the ability to see the students and their flexibility and determine what they might or might not be able to do - I certainly don't .

 

Ah- I see... yeah splits are tough, but like the moderators here always say "they are just another stretch". I can't even come close to being able to do them on my left side, but I take the stretch.

[Swiss_Chard]

Will they let you watch a class before you commit? If so, I'd recommend that.

 

Do you think the studios might let you go in with teens on other days?

 

 

The classes don't appear to be on-going, so I think I more or less have to jump in from the beginning. I suppose I could just watch a class, but since the classes are 8 weeks long, it doesn't really seem worth it. It's really not an ideal situation, because after one completes the 8 weeks, there isn't a higher level class to take. Not that 8 weeks of 1 lesson per week is enough to progress at all, but eventually, I'd like to get back up to taking intermediate level classes.

 

I'm not sure about the teen classes. I will have to look into it.