Gargouillade

Thank you both so much for the advice, I'll try your tips out in my next class My teacher says I have a very elevated and suspended grand jeté but it all goes wrong when I do them en tournant! I think I've been trying to do them as the boys do. The idea of darting forward and doing a little extra battement at the height of the jump is very helpful!

I'm struggling with doing these well and would appreciate any tips from the knowledgeable people on this forum. I can't get the appearance of being suspended in the air during the jeté although I have good elevation in grand allegro more generally. Thanks in advance!

Melissa's Instagram profile now reads 'Semperoper Ballett Principal ~ Royal Ballet 2007-2015'

I have just about tried all the adult ballet classes at Danceworks, and I am also vaguely familiar with the vocabulary of the RAD grades. Of the classes that accept under 16s on that list, it's my opinion that the beginner classes are probably the only suitable ones, maybe Anna's elementary class too. Even some of the beginner classes can get quite fast-paced and crowded as each class attracts regulars which speed up the class sometimes. I agree with all the other posters above about Danceworks being an adult-oriented studio. Hope this helps.

Thank you to the mod who merged my post! Hadn't noticed this thread, sorry!

I noticed that Roberta Marquez is now teaching a class at Danceworks for the intermediate to advanced dancer. Has anyone attended? I'm interested to know if it's really suitable for intermediate/advanced, or if it's closer to pre-vocational/professional level? Thanks in advance!

Brilliant, thank you! Must have searched/clicked on the wrong thing!

Can someone point me to an online retailer who sells jet glue for pointe shoes? Have checked all the usual sites (Planet Dance, Capezio, Just Ballet etc.) but they seem to have vanished! Thanks in advance! DDD

Brand new, unworn. £39 including P&P, retails for £54 at Bloch.

Thank you both — very helpful indeed.

Hi everyone, I'm considering adding some of the Central adult classes to my weekly schedule on Monday and Tuesday nights. I'm specifically interested in 7.00-8.30pm Ballet (Intermediate/Advanced) with Lorien Slaughter (Monday) 7.00-8.30pm Ballet (General/Intermediate) with Denzil Bailey (Tuesday) Could anyone comment on how difficult these classes are? I have done Denzil's intermediate class at Danceworks before but am interested to know if this would be at the same level. I have never done Lorien Slaughter's class, so I'd like to know just how 'advanced' it is. Thanks in advance!

Thank you Jane — I've recently moved to the outskirts of London! I agree Dancia has been better but they always try Gaynors on me because of my difficult feet and we have yet to get it right.

Thank you balletsoccermum, I'll do just that! Anna C - yes I have tried other makes - have been through Gaynors, Grishko and Suffolk. Freeds don't work for me at fittings - the profile is always too high!

Hi Anna C, I went to Bloch Covent Garden to get these fitted but they were not the most helpful fitters. I do jet glue them!

My pointe shoes 'die' in a particular way—first the wings break down completely to the point that there is no lateral support followed by the part of the platform underneath the pleats going soft. There is also no resistance whatsoever when rolling from demi-pointe to pointe so I can even stand in my highest demi-pointe while wearing them. Releves on one leg in the centre become almost impossible and I can occasionally feel my toes curling to prevent myself from sinking. The box and the shank are still strong and supportive so they don't seem all that 'dead' to my teacher who says they are still wearable but the decision is ultimately mine. I am wondering if the way my pointe shoes are 'dying' might be saying something that my teacher and I are missing out on? My classmates replace their shoes when the shank or box goes but for me it is all these other 'minor' components of the shoe so it is quite mystifying for everyone involved. They are Blochs which start to creak when the demi-pointe is busted... I think I must be on my tenth pair in this particular model. Hoping for some insights! Thank you for your time.

I was fitted for mine at the Capezio London store, but I don't think they stock them anymore. If you have already been fitted, you can ring the Suffolk factory, who will post them to you. I have done this a couple of times, but have since switched to another brand. It's quite expensive to buy from the factory directly (even more so than Porselli, if I remember correctly) Seems strange that hardly anyone in the UK stocks what is proudly marketed as a British-made and designed shoe! I'd love to try some of their new models.

Many thanks to everyone for the advice! Shellac didn't work too well for me but I will try jet glue as Anna C recommends. I am wearing toe spacers as well but they don't seem to be helping my bunion... if I were to align my big toe properly with the joint - which I have done with physio tape before - the gap is about an inch! Have purchased the extra large spacers from Bunheads in the hopes that it will work better. I have used the Gaynor Minden box liners to help fill in space when the box has become stretched out from use - maybe some day they'll make some long enough to help with the wings of the shoe!

Hi there, I was wondering if any of the knowledgeable members of this forum have any advice on how I can prolong the life of the 'wings' of my pointe shoes. I have really compressible feet and a hereditary bunion on my left foot, so the moment the 'wings' of the shoe break down, I start to sink into the box of the shoe and onto the bunion, which aggravates it tremendously. The 'wings' of the shoe I am wearing break down really easily and I am looking for an alternative model but any advice on how to prolong their lifespan would be appreciated! I have tried shellac but it does not help much. Thank you!

Thank you LinMM! I will 'bite the bullet' and hopefully my teacher will understand

My teacher is very much a 'solo operation' so I can't help out much... I did mention that I wouldn't be able to do privates for a while but have otherwise demonstrated interest in my regular classes and worked very hard in them. I think the case may be as alison suggests... But should I continue with a teacher who might be unprofessional when situations like this arise? I get the feeling like I'm being criticised so that I'd feel like I need private coaching.

Thanks kat09! I don't like confrontation but I will speak to my teacher if it continues. Not sure if I'm reading too much into the situation but a classmate who has recently started privates is getting the most attention in class now....

Corrections are still actively given to my classmates, and in the most recent class I was the only one receiving sharp comments but I'm not sure if I'm overthinking it! I have not mentioned it yet, but I used to have a private every fortnight and I believe my teacher knows that I would not go for privates elsewhere (have mentioned something to this effect before). I am still extremely attentive in the regular classes and I always make sure my body language displays interest (e.g. not standing with my arms folded, correcting myself and repeating the exercise when corrections are given to others). I'm not sure if I want to discuss the financial situation for personal reasons but it's been discouraging to be harshly spoken and uncorrected, especially since I have been one of the more hardworking members of the class!

I have been unable to afford privates with my regular teacher for the past few months due to financial constraints and as a result my teacher's attitude towards me during weekly classes has changed considerably. I no longer receive corrections and have had some harsh criticism. I still like the weekly classes and would like to keep going but I feel extremely discouraged. Has anyone had a similar experience? Some advice would be appreciated. Thank you all.

Hi Kat09, when I urgently needed some Bloch pointe shoes some lovely members on this forum pointed me to http://www.pointeshoe.com. My shoes are a MASSIVE 20 quid cheaper per pair on the site and I will be ordering in bulk before they too have a price hike! You may want to try the site too if your DD still prefers her Blochs.

Nope, they're not Blu-Ray!