balletkai

Hi! I have a question and I am hoping somebody on this site can help... During class, I am praised for my flexibility, but scolded for my lack of strength. My instructor says when you are flexible and turned out, you are loose and you tend to lack strength and stability, and vice versa. I do core strengthing independently and body conditioning through out the week at class, but are there any tips to get a stronger everything? Thanks! balletkai

I don't live in Europe, so I can't really help you with your problem... sounds like a toughie. But I do want to congratulate you on what you've accomplished. Besides from great teaching, it takes a lot of dedication, talent, and hard work to acheive what you have in a lifetime of dance, and you've done it in about two years! Props to you! Good luck!

I recently attended a studio's performance of Carmen, and I was surprised about how rude some of the members of the audience were. I understand that this wasnt a professional company put on ballet, but their manners weren't acceptable for a movie theatre, much less a ballet. Next to me was a man ON HIS CELL PHONE practically the entire time. A group of young women behind me giggled, made sarcastic comments, and clapped at inappropriate times through out the performance. And one eager mother stood up and waved to her young daughter on the stage, and the daughter stopped dancing and waved back. Really?! The same mother clapped along to the upbeat music, and it wasnt even on the beat. I just wanted to slap all of them. I am years younger than every one of the offenders, but I have the decency and common sense to know what is ballet appropriate and what is just plain impolite. Whoo. Just had to get that out.