Kate_N

Bizarrely, the one week we worked on a modern combination I picked it up first time (as I go to a weekly jazz class where we learn a routine.) My teacher was shocked!

This isn't bizarre in my view -- but to be expected. The way we learn something like dance (a very complex set of skills) is through repetition, to develop proprioception: muscle memory.

My advice would be to struggle through the more advanced class, after a discussion about your CURRENT limitations with your teacher. Slowly, slowly, it will start to stick. Edited to add: I'd take a bet that over say, 6 to 12 months, those current limitations will have shifted, and you'll slowlty see progress. BUt you need to have courage don't you, to go into a class where you know that half of it is *currently* beyond you? But only *currently*!

Some advice I read ages ago on the other ballet site was that one way to learn is not to worry about the details, but to try to get the big overall shapes and rhythms. So in petit allegro, think about directions of travel and rhythm. And the steps will come gradually, although I know -- you'll feel like a big hot mess!

Would that be an approach you could use just for now?

My school will operate in Berkshire and Oxfordshire and will not be attached to a children's school.  It will be a dance school solely for adults- I want to offer a non-competitive environment providing beginner and improvers ballet and tap classes.

 

RachaelMarie, that's great news! I'm nowhere near that geographical area, but I know that there are always people looking for good ballet (and other dance forms) classes which welcome adult students. I've found a lovely studio in my town -- I've recently moved ito the deep deep south west, and one of the few things I missed about the city I left were very good and frequent advanced ballet classes. NBut I've now found a lovely studio, with a really excellent teacher. Not very advanced classes, but I'm getting up to speed after 2 years away from the barre, and happy to work on the basics.

Not sure about the next bit, but anyway ... [mods, please remove if it's contrary to your rules here] I hang out on another ballet message board and help moderate the Adult Studejts section. And I know there are a few people there looking for classes in the area in which you're setting up your school. So I'll post a link to here, and hopefully you'll have some more students!

I first saw the RB do this, and loved it. Little did I know then that I would be so lucky as to meet Mr North and see many more of his ballets, and indeed see Troy Game several more times. It's still being performed bu the company in Germany where Mr North is director.

Thank you everyone for the welcome, and the ideas about Bristol studios. During the university term I'm generally working too many hours to do the travelling, but I will keep looking at those studios to see if they offer summer classes. Meanwhile, a colleague has just given me contact details for contemporary classes at a new studio. Did my first one tonight and it was great!

Hello all, I'm pleased to find this forum again. I was a regular reader & poster on the old Ballet.co.uk site, and so pleased to find its next version here (I also help to moderate the Ballet Talk for Dancers site, particularly the adult ballet students' sections).

So it's great to find you all here!

I've just moved from a ballet-class rich city (Birmingham) to the West Country. I"m starting to find a few classes here and there, but thought you people would have the inside knowledge. I'm in the cathedral county town, and can find one hour adult ballet clases, but I'm starting to want a bit more. Any suggestions?