Help with outside of class practice?

[Tanglenose]

I dance everday during the week, and then on weekends, I don't have any classes. So what do I do?! I usually fall into a bad habit of being on the computer all weekend, and I know it's not good for me. I heard that running and biking is bad for your knees, and I don't have access to any excersice equipment, so what do I do?? Help!!

[Victoria Leigh]

Welcome to Ballet Talk for Dancers, Tanglenose.

 

Actually, if you are dancing 5 days a week I would not worry that much about the weekend. You could walk, do floor exercises, maybe even a barre at home one of those days, but you really do need at least one day off from strenuous exercise. Biking is not so bad for the knees, really. Running can be pretty hard on the joints, though.

 

How old are you, and what is your level in dance? Do you have ballet every day during those 5 days? What about pointe? Does your school do productions that require extra hours of rehearsals?

[Tanglenose]

I'm 16 and on my third year of Intermediate Foundation. I have ballet twice a week, as well as modern and jazz. Also, I have a dance class at school everyday that incorporates ballet. I just switched dance studios and the class I'm in hasn't started pointe yet (although I've been on pointe for three years). I do pointe at home sometimes, but not very often. Sometimes I have rehearsals before school or on weekends for the dance production that our school is putting on (it's a public high school though, not a ballet school).

 

And thank you for the suggestions! I like to bike but I was always worried about bulky thighs or injuring my knees. I feel like by just sitting around doing nothing I'm just wasting time when I should be practicing. It's hard to practice at home though because our whole house is carpet.

[Victoria Leigh]

What are your goals, Tanglenose? Are you aiming for a career in some form of dance? Or a college major? I'm asking because if it is ballet you are interested in most, you need to be have daily classes in ballet and pointe, at least 5 days a week, preferably 6 at your age.

[Tanglenose]

I really want to go to a college where I can study ballet/dance. I'd really love to go to the National Ballet of Canada, but I think I'm aiming too high. I would take more classes if I could, but we live in a small town, and I have to drive an hour to get to the city. I don't think my parents know how serious I want to be about this. And I don't think they'd believe me if I told them. I don't know what else to do.

Edited October 10, 2010 by Tanglenose

[Victoria Leigh]

Unfortunately, many students have to either travel quite a bit for classes, or they go to a residency program. If you are serious and really want to dance, in college or professionally, it sounds to me like you have no option but to get to the city or move to a residency. The problem with the latter is that, at 16, you are probably below the level they would look for in a residency program, because you have just not had enough training. I think it would be a good idea for you to go to the city, to the best school there is, take a class, and get an evaluation by a professional teacher. You need to know at this point in time whether you have a realistic potential to accomplish your goals or not. Besides your training, you would need to have a very good physical facility for dance and to show musicality, intelligence, and potential for artistry. It does not sound like you have had much performing experience. Have you ever attended an away-from-home Summer Intensive program?

[Tanglenose]

No I've never taken a summer intensive program, but I hear they offer them at the School of Alberta Ballet. I think their summer programs can also qualify as an audition for their school.

 

what if I went to the school next year? I'll be done the intermediate foundation exam, so I can go to intermediate. http://www.schoolofalbertaballet.com/theCo...per_School.html

Edited October 10, 2010 by Tanglenose

[Victoria Leigh]

That is pushing your luck. You are 16, and that is very late in the training of a dancer. You need to go there yesterday!

 

Seriously, you need to find out if you would ever even have a chance, and if so, you need the training NOW. Not next summer, not next year, starting now.

[Tanglenose]

I know, but school's already started. What can I do?

Edited October 10, 2010 by Tanglenose

[Victoria Leigh]

Call them and ask if you can come and take a class to audition for the school, or for placement in the school. If they say yes, then go. You should be able to learn by seeing the classes and especially by taking a class and finding out where you stand.

[Tanglenose]

Thank you so much for your help! I'll do that

Edited October 10, 2010 by Tanglenose

[balletgirlie1207]

Floor barre can do wonders for strength and intricate work of your feet, your core strength, and stability (not to mention turnout). It would be a good warm up for during the week too!

 

I love this style of floorbarre. I have tried many other styles and always end up gripping or frankly getting too bored, they are either too hard or too easy. These are great! I would buy the advanced if you think you're pretty strong but if you aren't sure, it might be a very good investment to get the set. They are expensive but I have colleagues who swear by it (professional dancers).

 

[Link deleted by moderator.]

 

However, I agree with what everyone has been saying. You should audition for a school that will really train you at your age/level.

Edited October 11, 2010 by Victoria Leigh

[Victoria Leigh]

Balletgirlie, no one has been responding to this but me. There is no everyone on this thread. I deleted the link because, while we are very familiar with floor barre, we do not know that particular method of floor barre. I am not comfortable with a link to anything on this forum that is not something the teacher moderators know about.