Guest hesterlover1 Posted August 15, 2002 Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 Okay, this is kind of a weird complaint, and I'm sorry about the long venting post, but I just had to let it out!! Here goes... To explain, at my studio, there is a lady who takes the advanced classes with me. She is a ballet teacher, although right now she is not teaching ballet anywhere, and she is about 40. She's very nice and has great technique. Also, at my studio we have one actual "pointe class" a week, and we are expected to wear our shoes for some regular technique classes throughout the week. During the school year I usually take 3-4 classes on pointe a week out of my 7-8 classes. Anyway, she is also from that school of thought that is for wearing pointe shoes ALL the time. I'm not saying that is wrong, by any means, but personally, I like to take some classes in slippers and some in pointe shoes. I find that when I'm in slippers, I can work my feet into the floor a little better and concentrate on some things that are harder in pointe shoes. I know there are teachers that would agree with her, but I've also met teachers who would agree with me. She is constantly making comments like, "You girls really need to wear pointe shoes all the time. There's practically no point to dancing in flat shoes!! I mean, why even bother?? That's the only way you're going to get strong. At your level, you won't improve in soft shoes..." etc. I've tried to politely explain that I like to warm up my feet before wearing pointe shoes and don't like to wear them for the first class of the day; or that I like to work my feet in slippers sometimes...but whatever I say, she just doesn't let up. First of all, am I just WRONG in wanting to split my classes between pointe and flat?? And also, if I'm all right, is there anything I can say so she'll let up without being disrespectful, or do I just have to grin and bear it? It's getting very frustrating... !!! Sorry again about the long venting post... Thanks for listening! Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted August 15, 2002 Administrators Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 Katie, A) You are right; It's none of her business and she is not your teacher; C) It won't do any good to argue or even discuss it with her because her mind is made up and she believes she is right; D) Try to ignore her, if you can, without being impolite. Change the subject, or just suddenly get very busy and go on to whatever you can do to get away. E) You might mention this to your teacher. Your teacher may not know this is going on, and would not appreciate someone else telling her students what they should or should not do. If all this fails, just try to stay as far away from this person as possible. Just don't talk to her, period. Ignore, walk away, stand on the other side of the room, etc. What she thinks is not important. Link to comment
Perfect Performer Posted August 15, 2002 Report Share Posted August 15, 2002 Katie, I Agree with Ms. Leigh. It might be really frustrating but the best thing you can do is try to ignore her. Link to comment
Guest hesterlover1 Posted August 16, 2002 Report Share Posted August 16, 2002 Thanks for replying!! I guess what I needed most was the reassurance that I am NOT wrong about wanting to take some classes in soft shoes and some on pointe. I don't think it will get to the point where I need to talk to my teacher or completely ignore her--I guess she's not quite as bad as I made her sound in my earlier post, but I was frustrated at the time!! I'll do my best to ignore the comments, because I don't want to be rude to her...after all, she is an adult, even if she is a student in my class! Thanks again for the advice!! Link to comment
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