miss.pointe

Have you asked him/her why there are increases? Perhaps it's an increase in costs that won't continue - if it does continue every term it could soon seem a bit steep but it seems about right from my perspective (London). I always appreciate it when the teacher explains the reason for the increase - venue hire, new equipment, licenses, etc, as otherwise students are often left feeling the teacher is just trying to make more money for the same work/expense.

What about asking her privately after class and simply explaining that you are having trouble with the count - maybe take the pressure off her and say something like "I'm worried I'm not getting it - perhaps it's something I'm doing wrong, but...." and that way she can answer your question without feeling you're questioning her in front of the rest of the class. She may admit she's gotten it wrong before and clarify it for you, she may open the syllabus book right in front of you and you can look together. I'm sure she would appreciate this more than asking outright in the class and there may be a good reason for this. Maybe she's inexperienced and doesn't know she's been getting it so wrong? I know I am guilty of having done the same thing (blush) and it's VERY embarrassing and I should probably just come clean to my class but professional pride and worry gets in the way and I try and muddle through, but I'm quite a new teacher. I don't mind questions but it's the exchanged looks, giggles and raised eyebrows that throw me off my game and make it worse. As a teacher I feel I should not fear saying "sorry, my bad" or appearing human, but it's not easy, perhaps the grace to do that more comes with experience! But that's another topic... Good luck either way!!!

I've used Dance Direct for years and never had problems, REALLY fast delivery, etc. Unfortunately I returned something two months ago and haven't had the refund yet and only one automatic response email saying they were having issues and would get back to me but no response to my other emails. It is a shame as it genuinely SEEMS to be a authentic problem with the system.

My pet peeve is something I used to see at my little local dance school... when in pointe shoes the girls have their pointed back foot in preparation actually on the tip of the block, not pointed and stretched fully behind them. I remember taking school photos and I was the only one with a properly pointed back foot but I looked wrong compared to the others... argh!

I second the Little Women idea! Pollyanna might be sweet. Anne of Green Gables, though she'd have to be a red-head or wear a wig Can only seem to think of American stories for some reason!

Maybe I am very young and don't remember many before, but it seems ballet dancers are becoming more well-known in the mainstream - Darcey in Strictly, Rojo was in that car advert recently, wasn't she? That sort of thing. It's nice and good. I like

I don't know either company, and certainly understand your trepidation, but as a manager/teacher I know I would appreciate good communication from my students/employees/parents, as far in advance as possible, and in a pleasant manner, of course. I think managers/teachers get good at knowing who is trying to wiggle out of things and who is serious and generally like happy people working for them so will do their best if they are given good attendance the rest of the time. If there is no way she will allow it, sometimes I just accept that is fate deciding. Good luck - I hope it works out and there is no disappointment xx

Yes, there wasn't a single shot where you could see her whole body - as in, torso and legs/feet. Even right at the end when you see the whole body, there's enough shadow so she could easily have been supported. I am not sure she actually danced like that in one go. But I agree, poor piano! I am quite old fashioned, I don't like to see beautiful things like pianos being destroyed, although it's an art form in itself I suppose. Quite creepy - bit painful to watch but quite well made.

Not ballet, but theatre - I went to see a friend in her drama school graduation show, and one of the actors smashed her head against the hard floor in a fight scene. Actual tears flowed which matched her character's emotions at the time, so everyone was left wondering how hurt she was and what was acting. Afterwards I found it they very nearly replaced her with the understudy, so bad was the fall, but her professionalism and grit kept her going not a breath out of place. As for me, this one is not backstage I'm afraid as very obvious - I became so engaged with my monologue that I walked of the front of the stage completely! I remember the audience gasping loudly but I was so nervous and embarrassed that I gave a little giggle, climbed up and simply carried on! I cringe just thinking about it! And I suppose this is an example of the opposite - those on stage not knowing what those off could see! At my local dance school when I was a youngster, in our annual shows I remember girls often wearing their shimmer or tan tights underneath their ballet pink tights, which, under the stage lights, of course, looked horrendous - rather like baked beans under a film of milk!

Interesting input, thanks. I didn't specify but was referring to heavier weights as opposed to lighter ones. I suppose ankle ones are only light, anyway!

I never wore jewellery to class as a youngster - although quite a few in my class did - and even now if I attend an open class or even Zumba, I take off my jewellery out of habit. I also don't like feeling my necklace or bracelet jangle anyway, I take it all off when I jog, I worry about losing things, too. I ask my adult dancers not to wear "loose" jewellery as coming from work they often don't remember to remove or may lose it when removing it (I keep my jewellery in my purse, though). Anyone else watch Breaking Pointe? I'm always shocked at the long, jangly earrings that Beckanne often wears! Just for safety's sake!

I think this is an interesting point... it's difficult when "we are all adults" and most adults are dancing for fun and fitness, so want to also have a laugh and enjoy it, which I'm not against. But if I were in the position of paying a decent price for a class, no matter what it was - dance, baking, calligraphy! - I'd want to get my money's wroth as well. I have two (lovely!) girls in my class who tend to stand together, whisper to each other for help rather than ask me the question, giggle a lot and mimic their own mistakes as a release, but it is noisy and distracting for the other dancers as well as frustrating for me to have to get their attention again. It's not fair on the other dancers who are paying to learn as well.

I would imagine that using weights not only enhances bulking of certain muscles but also uses a different muscle. Adding weights usually engages a different muscle than the ones which "lift" or "extend" a limb, don't they?

I don't teach an open class but a termly one - but my two rules to my adult beginners on the very first class (and reminded afterwards) were 1) Be responsible to let me know if anything hurts and 2) Be aware of your own space - not too close to others, or things (barres, mirrors). My day job is in a company which is s**t hot on Health and Safety and I have learned the hard way what it means to be protected as a teacher. If someone hurts themselves because they wear long earrings which fly into someone's face, or by stamping accidentally on another dancer's foot, I as the teacher am the one in trouble. Frankly, I can't let that happen for the selfish reason that I don't want to be taken to court, lose dancers unnecessarily, get a reputation that my classes are dangerous or this-and-that happened in my class. If someone arrives late and doesn't warm up, they can't take the class. If someone jumps into a move or cuts in front of someone, I have to mention it, for safety reasons. There is ballet class etiquette as well, but coming from the background of teaching and coaching in the corporate world, I have brought some good habits with me. Just my thoughts that as well as etiquette being broken or more timid/inexperienced dancers being pushed out of the way, a teacher (of anything) needs to be protected and protect the health and safety of their students. Oh and welcome to the forum - great topic!

I agree - it's such a great forum to be a part of, even if I mostly read and don't comment very much

What a terrible thing to happen... amazing what parental love automatically does

For those who may interested, Louisa Chester of the CDA link I posted above sent me this email which has a little more info about the course: The Contemporary Dance Association (CDA) is a new creative and inspiring contemporary dance syllabus aimed at students aged 9+. We offer Bronze Silver and Gold awards, then Lower and Higher Intermediate followed by Advanced and Advanced Plus. From Lower Intermediate the examinations must be followed in order. The syllabus is designed to teach a strong understanding of contemporary dance following Graham and Cunningham techniques. Pupils and teachers will also be allowed to follow their creative and artistic flair in the choreography and improvisation sections of each examination. Weekly Ballet lessons are essential to run alongside the syllabus, as its the foundation of all contemporary dance, hence why we asked to be accredited with a board that undertakes ballet. To gain membership if no prior contemporary training has been undertaken you will need to study the syllabus and enter the Higher Intermediate Examination to gain Full Teacher Status. The length it takes to study the syllabus depends on the experience of the teacher, we also have teaching reference DVDs to refer back to. The membership fees for becoming a member and the exam specification, cd's and dvd's are available on our website Courses are available either in Leicester or at your own studio, prices depend on location and hours spent. Most school have had courses to learn the work and then referred back using the DVD.

Yes, I think somewhere it says the students should have concurrent ballet training, too. Or perhaps they said something similar in an email to me. Does look pretty ok!

I agree! Once my ballet teaching gets a bit more settled I am very interested in looking into this and taking the exams for my own development as well as potential teaching or at least to have that experience for my ballet teaching.

Taxi4ballet asked me to post this which I had posted elsewhere on the forum - I am very interested in it, too - from what I can tell, it's the first of its kind - contemporary dance syllabus and exams http://www.cdancea.com/index.html

I will take a look!

Taximom, I didn't think there were contemporary exams either but found this a short while back! First of it's kind http://www.cdancea.com/index.html

Hi everyone I am planning pointe prep and pointe classes and am thinking of using either Lisa Howell's Perfect Pointe System or the Pre Pointe/Pointe Level 1 from ABC Dance (http://www.abcfordance.com/Pointe-Manual-p/p1yltg.htm) As they are not cheap, ideally I'd love to take a look at them before buying and was wondering if anyone had them already (or similar) which I could borrow to look through and see if it's right for me? Would really appreciate it and of course pay for P&P Thanks

Lovely little video! What really impressed me was how she looked like a little moth - so light on her feet and floaty. Even though the stunning ballet dancers nowadays can make something difficult look easy for them, their technique is so strong and firm and deliberate, that floaty, moth-like quality doesn't really exist in the same way anymore. Not saying one is any better than the other, just interesting how the art form has changed and what audiences would have loved seeing back then. Also interesting, of course, is the cultural context. This would have been an amazing sight to see if only for the fact you could see her ankles and feet moving, her bare shoulders and collar bones, etc. I remember reading somewhere in my school days that Victorian ladies weren't allowed to raise their arms above their heads, let alone move with the energy and exertion this dancer is doing.

Thank you so much