hummingbirds Posted November 12, 2010 Report Share Posted November 12, 2010 My 15 year old dd took an open class at a "dolly dinkle" studio where no one knew her. It was wonderful to see her dance with abandon!!! Six days a week she is in a class with her peers and teachers ....always cognicent of the evaluation of her every move... Always working hard to improve... and rarely getting to just enjoy the moment!!! So... give your dd a vacation...simply send to an open class, where no one knows her and no one will correct her and let her loose... we did.... and it was such a positive experience I had to share it!!! Quote Link to comment
Clara 76 Posted November 13, 2010 Report Share Posted November 13, 2010 hummingbirds- I can certainly appreciate the joy that you must have felt in seeing your daughter dance like that! I guess what concerns me is why that might not be happening at her "home studio"? Quote Link to comment
vagansmom Posted November 14, 2010 Report Share Posted November 14, 2010 Hummingbirds, timely comment. It's very similar to one that my own daughter recently made. She's a professional dancer who takes classes at various open studios when she's not performing. She said that she's found herself improving in ways she would never have expected. She said that when a dancer is enrolled at a dancing studio, or at a summer intensive or is a professional taking company classes, she feels like she is always on display, always auditioning because upcoming roles are largely based on how one dances during class. But when she's at an open class, it doesn't matter what the teacher thinks, so she just dances for herself. She takes more risks. It sounds just like what you said, doesn't it? It makes lots of sense to me. No matter how great the teacher is - and my daughter had wonderful teachers - that aspect of trying to please the teacher is ever-present, and so, unconsciously, one might be holding back a little. Quote Link to comment
vivaballet Posted November 15, 2010 Report Share Posted November 15, 2010 Hummingbirds, I absolutely agree with you on the vacation idea. Dd has taken classes at an adult studio that teaches (gasp) hip hop and other modern and jazz styles. She has done this primarily in the summer and will take a friend who is more of a recreational dancer. They have a lot of fun and the age ranges at this studio are from early teens to 20-30 somethings and it is more of a fitness class for most. One of the teachers at this studio has asked her where she got her training (he knew her AD too) and she feels good that she can jump into these classes and be noticed but does not have to do anything but enjoy the class. Her AD has no problem with her taking these classes as long as they do not interfere with her studio's schedule and it is a nice break when she forgets that dance is supposed to be fun. Quote Link to comment
balletmomy Posted November 15, 2010 Report Share Posted November 15, 2010 I also agree with the vacation idea. My DD is away at a ballet school and absolutely loves coming home and dancing. She feels as thought she doesn't have to be as "on" and can really relax and enjoy the class. She can't wait till she can come home and do it again. Quote Link to comment
hummingbirds Posted November 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2010 Vagansmom, Balletmomy and Vivaballet... How nice it is to hear you have all had the same experiences....with a 6 day a week ballet schedule it is tough to find the time ...but it is soooo worth it... I really hope other parents see this.... particularly "pre pro".... " Quote Link to comment
hummingbirds Posted November 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2010 hummingbirds-I can certainly appreciate the joy that you must have felt in seeing your daughter dance like that! I guess what concerns me is why that might not be happening at her "home studio"? My dd has been at the same ballet school with a company for 13 years....she loves her school. I don't think this is a reflection at all on the school... I just think if you were a singer you would sing in the shower or the car with abandon... but ballerina's need good floors, so we have to go elsewhere as we don't have the reources to build one in our home!!! Maybe it is the equivalent of "outside reading" when you are in high school???? Anyway, thank you for caring... we are fine!!! Quote Link to comment
PFaith Posted November 28, 2010 Report Share Posted November 28, 2010 Thank you for sharing Hummingbirds, I believe that my DD experienced something similar. This past summer she took open classes in addition to her regular classes. It wasn't a Dolly Dinkle, but a large ballet school attached to a professional company. However, because the classes she attended were open, she stated that she felt an ease that she hadn't felt in awhile, and really enjoyed a particular teacher's dance philosophy and personality. What I observed -they have a large windowed atrium with seating- was that she appreciated being instructed and validated by a different teacher (although she really trusts and enjoys her regular teacher), and she enjoyed dancing with a potpourri of dancers---teenagers, adults, professional and recreational ballet dancers. Quote Link to comment
arabento Posted January 14, 2011 Report Share Posted January 14, 2011 My DS takes a Scottish Highland Dance class once a week. He will probably never compete in this form, but it is a fun outlet for him. It goes well with his ballet training, but is a non-stress, fun environment. The teacher is encouraging and is glad to have a guy in the class. He rarely smiles in ballet class, but she says he is always smiling in this one. Maybe because there is no pressure to compete or to always be on. Quote Link to comment
ann melissa Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 We need to find someplace for my DD to "take a break and have fun." She is young and seems to be burning out. If we had the cash I would take her to something like the spring weekend course @ Orlando. Anyone know of something like this in the midwest? We don't have companies near with "open classes." We do get the occasional master class, which is fun, but with the same local dancers. Summer SI was a great get away and she will do that again, but we need a quick, affordable winter get away!! Quote Link to comment
Clara 76 Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 (edited) This thread may help, but definitely check the websites of the companies listed, because the thread is older: Winter Intensives Other than that, perhaps take a weekend trip to the nearest large city to see a ballet company!! Maybe Kansas City Ballet or Milwaukee Ballet or head to Chicago- I'm sure there are plenty of things happening there. Maybe while you're in town seeing the company, you could schedule her a class at the school. Be sure to explain to the school that she is just visiting the city and would like to take a class to see how her current placement stacks up against others her age. See if they can do a sit-down with you afterwards- and evaluation of her abilities and current level. Some company schools will take the time to do an eval- some will not, so you will have to check with the school first to be sure. Edited January 15, 2011 by Clara 76 More information Quote Link to comment
Esteegee Posted January 28, 2011 Report Share Posted January 28, 2011 Vagansmom, Balletmomy and Vivaballet... How nice it is to hear you have all had the same experiences....with a 6 day a week ballet schedule it is tough to find the time ...but it is soooo worth it... I really hope other parents see this.... particularly "pre pro".... " My daughter says she loves going away for the summer for dance, and loves guest instructors for this reason. She feels like they really see her and her skill level. She has so many friends at this studio it's difficult to make a move, but it has crossed her mind. Decisions. Quote Link to comment
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