Weeee so much FUN!

[silkmaiden]

Okay this is NOT meant to be a brag post, in any way, shape or form.

 

I just needed to post somewhere where people would understand how I feel! I don't dare take up anymore of my teachers' time, they already think I'm a little cuckoo probably.

 

I'm just having SO MUCH FUN. It's like, each class is just better than the last (I don't mean I dance perfectly all the time or never have a bad class, not true). The more I dance, the more in love I fall with it, and the more I want to dance. I would stay there ALL NIGHT LONG if I could. Not that I could afford that, even if there were enough classes offered.

 

I had a class last night at a different from my usual school. And it's usually a very intimidating class. I take almost all my classes with the teens, and I'm currently working at RAD intermediate, and this class is ALL Advanced 1-2 students, so usually the class ends up being Adv 1 level. Which most of the time freaks me out. But I don't know if it was because of the teacher or just how friendly everyone was being (I notice that matters so much to me - if I feel like the class if catty or negative or unfriendly, it really wrecks my nerves), but it was an amazing class. My extensions were right up there in adagio, I actually landed all my double pirouettes (which, like, NEVER happens), and grand allegro felt AWESOME. I actually looked in the mirror during grand allegro and my grand jetes actually looked like a split! I was shocked, since usually I look better in my head than in reality....

 

I have to apologize a bit here if I sound a bit gloating, I don't mean to be, I'm just still giddy.

 

I think, for me, it's so much mental. And taking lots of classes has really shored up my confidence. It's like, if I take class almost daily, one bad exercise or one bad class isn't a big deal. But if I only take class once or twice a week, each mess up feels THAT much more a big deal, if that makes sense.

 

In any case, I hope I can continue with this momentum in the fall. I worry that not being able to get ballet everyday will interrupt my momentum. I've doubled up where I can and I'm doing jazz, contemporary, tap and hip hop on other days, but I worry about losing my 'edge' in ballet.

 

Yep, ballet is my grand passion. When I'm not in the studio, I'm counting down till my next class. I just wish I were made of money, because it's really hard to explain to non-dancers how, at my age, I can justify spending upwards of $3k next year on tuition alone on dance when I 'have no future in it'. But you guys all understand, I'm sure!

 

Only 9.5 hours to go until next class. Int ballet, pointe, and tap tonight! Can't wait.

[Redbookish]

Wonderful, silkmaiden! Thanks for sharing that with us -- we are the one group of people who KNOW what you mean!

 

And isn't it great landing good pirouettes? That's my favourite thing to do.

[AndrewUK]

I know what you mean silkmaiden ! I sort of got "roped in" to Ballet by my girlfriend who has been doing it since she was young, you get "hooked" that's for sure ! Its also great for fitness I used to play Ruby thought I was fit for that until started taking regular classes, then shows how unfit you really are, also goes to show how fit the professional dances are. We have just started rehearsals for a upcoming performance ( my first ever!) now doing more that one class per week my legs are certainly finding it hard going, step up the fitness level again !

 

As they say keep dancing and keep enjoying !

[Ludmilla]

silkmaiden -- Thanks for sharing your joy over ballet and your lovely achievements in technique! YOu have every right to be on top of the world... It puts a smile on my face!

[silkmaiden]

Aww, thanks for all the nice words everyone. I knew you all would get it!

 

Redbookish - hah, I need to relish those moments, because I probably won't have another good turning day like that for awhile! I think, though, that it's true, I do have better pirouette days when I'm relaxed, and the atmosphere was so fun that class that I wasn't nervous like I usually am. A lesson to be carried into the future for sure.

 

AndrewUK - GOOD going, you! It is amazing how much fitness it really takes, isn't it? Hah, funny story, very first class back after my long 15 years away, very first plie exercise, and I got a giant butt cramp. I couldn't believe it. This was after years of running (I ran half marathons and 10k's), bootcamp, kickboxing, pilates, yoga.....I thought I was in shape, but clearly not in ballet shape, That's a whole 'nother beast.

 

Ludmilla - I'm glad I posted this, because on the days when I get frustrated (often) or feel like I'm an old geezer lumbering behind all the young'uns, I can come back here and read my post, and it'll remind me why I'm doing this.

[Kini]

I didn't read any bragging in your post. All of us have a day where everything just falls into place and you come home from class excited and full of energry from the success. Why not tell someone?

 

(My wife hears about it when I have a great class and come home full of myself )

 

I gave up trying to explain to someone why I spend the money on myself for training with no chance or interest of doing anything beyond classes.

 

Last person that tried to get me to justify why I spend what I do on what has again become a grad passion I responed with asking why they spend what they do on golf, kinda drove the point home to her and she quit asking.

[silkmaiden]

I didn't read any bragging in your post. All of us have a day where everything just falls into place and you come home from class excited and full of energry from the success. Why not tell someone?

 

(My wife hears about it when I have a great class and come home full of myself )

 

I gave up trying to explain to someone why I spend the money on myself for training with no chance or interest of doing anything beyond classes.

 

Last person that tried to get me to justify why I spend what I do on what has again become a grad passion I responed with asking why they spend what they do on golf, kinda drove the point home to her and she quit asking.

 

 

I bolded the sentence that made me go, YEAH, THIS!! No one really 'gets it' in my life either. Though I do have recital opportunities, so it's kind of a justification, even though I know I'm probably going to get weird looks from the other dance moms in the spring.

 

With my husband, it's all my nattering on about pointe shoes. I do tend to go on and on about fit, breaking in, preparation, breaking down, etc etc and he just doesn't care. Thank goodness my best friend from childhood also dances, so she GETS IT, and I talk her ear off about dance constantly. Well, it's an obsession, isn't it?

[DancinMomof2]

Love hearing your joy silkmaiden, it brought a smile to my face! It's always such an awesome feeling when you have those "great" classes and I try to remember that whenever I have a "bad" class - you know, those classes when you feel like you can't do anything right or get out of your own way. Enjoy every minute of it!

[Ludmilla]

silkmaiden -- Keep going, yes........ W/ the ballet, tap and jazz, too.....i see no 'old geezer' anywhere in your future........... and it keeps you young, to boot! Not every class may be as magical perhaps where moon and all stars line right up - we have days of simply catching up and maybe catching a breath, but the sheer joy you have in what you are doing is really infectious and I love your fearless approach, full of gusto!

it's also refreshing to see someone acknowledge their triumphs and progress! We can be so self-critical or fearful of 'not being good enough' etc. why not jump in, enjoy and love every minute of this journey?

[leopard dancer]

I also know what you mean. If I could, I would take a ballet class seven days a week. I knew I'd like ballet when I started, but did not expect to love it. I am sure we all have good classes and then a great class when things just go correctly. The feeling is great and you know all that hard work in previous classes are justified. Congrats on the great class!

Edited August 23, 2013 by leopard dancer

[silkmaiden]

Thanks everyone. Same teacher tonight for that class, I really enjoyed it. I didn't have -quite- as good a turning day (ended up on the wrong leg on the first pass, oops), but gosh I still loooooooooooove adagio and grand allegro.

 

Open classes are so much fun, syllabus really does get a bit stale after awhile. It's just too bad no one seems to have open classes near me except in the summer.

[AndrewUK]

Hi silkmaiden

 

Ballet fitness is in another league as you say, even going from the one class a week have been doing to now doing that plus a number of rehearsals a week, shows me still at fair way to go to "become ballet fit! at least after the first few multiply weekly session my upper legs muscles beginning to "accept" and not scream out at me a couple hours after the end of a rehearsal session, starting with some lifts in earnest next week for the performance see how they go (or not !).

 

Hard work but 100% enjoyable at same time !

[silkmaiden]

Hard work but 100% enjoyable at same time !

 

Yep, definitely! I agree with you completely on this.

 

You're so lucky to get to do pas de deux! I'm so envious. In our little small town school, there are but a handful of young boys, and they're all mostly in tap/jazz. I don't think I even saw any boys in any of the ballet numbers last recital.

 

Now that two of my sons are taking dance there, I'm pretty sure my boys are like half of the male student population....Which is too bad considering there are two very good male teachers!

 

I have to make a confession though. Part of me really hopes my 7 year old will take to ballet. Mwuahahahaha, I'm grooming a future pas partner, eh?

[AndrewUK]

I am lucky my girlfriend who got me "into" ballet in first place, is very good at dance she is talking to see if she can some semi professional work in some form or dance, I can sort of get some practice in with her, just basic lifts to help develop my upper body strength so I can hopefully make the lifts correctly and more importantly without injury ( she wont be my partner in performance though she is way to good for me !) only me and another guy in our class with 6 some time 8 girls

 

Guess coming weeks will tell if can get it right, or even can anywhere close to ! (fingers crossed !)

[kr12]

It is addicting. The tiniest improvement can give you the biggest high.