The_Red_Shoes

I made my come back a year ago after 24 years. After my first class I ached for a full week! I found that I remembered everything that I once knew - the difficulty was actually doing it. After a couple of weeks I was generally OK and felt confident in doing things that I hadn't done for many years - I mean, jumping and pirouetting hadn't exactly featured in my life for many a year. My first class was an easy going general adult class with a friendly. encouraging atmosphere and dancers with a wide range of ability/experience. I still go to that class and love it but also take RAD syllabus classes now. I am careful to avoid risks that might cause injury and try to be very aware of my body and its current capabilities. Regaining flexibility and stamina is still an ongoing process and I don't quite know where my turnout has disappeared to. Balance isn't what it was either. On the other hand, past experience does have a big effect on style and having nice arms and head is more attainable than high extensions. Good luck with your class. I'm sure you will have a wonderful time and be dancing in your dreams tonight.

I have just started working on the Intermediate syllabus too. I'm very excited about it and love some of the exercises. I know all the barre exercises and kind of know the pirouettes, allegro and about half of Variation 1, but not yet entirely secure in doing some of it up to speed. That allegro 2! I'm an adult returner rather than a beginner, so I know the vocabulary and technique in theory - now it's a question of getting my aging body actually to do it properly. I have been doing foot and ankle strengthening exercises for a few months and had been intending to start pointe work after Christmas. However I'm probably going to need to get on with it sooner. We've been told that we should be doing every class in soft blocks, so I'm buying some this week and thinking about making a trip to Manchester or somewhere for a pointe shoe fitting. (Can anyone recommend a good shop in the North-West?) BG, I know that feeling of wanting to be good and feeling frustrated by the reality of the speed of progress. However, look at it positively as a source of determination. Also, have you checked that your shoes really are the right ones for your feet? I think buying your first pair can be particularly difficult as at the point of buying them you don't know how they should feel or whether they're going to work for you, and it can take trying a few different brands/styles before you find the right ones. An expensive business, too! Good luck.

Hi everyone, I've been lurking for a while and thought I'd join in and introduce myself now. Greetings to all the other adult returners. I started taking an adult ballet class at the beginning of this year after a gap of 20 years. I've been so inspired by you adult dancers out there that I've just joined an RAD syllabus class. And also signed up for the Leeds Ballet Retreat and some RAD rep workshops. I really wanted to start with Intermediate Foundation, but there isn't one running locally, so I'm taking an Intermediate class and an Advanced 1 class. Not that I expect ever to take the Advanced 1 examination! However, the Inter girls will be taking their exam in the spring and then they will start on the Grade 7 syllabus and I really want to do that. Meanwhile I'm trying to get back into form, bearing in mind that at 64 some things will never come back. However my new teacher did say that I'm "a beautiful dancer" and I'm really chuffed about that. Actually I think I'm a very skilled and experienced bluffer. I don't know if I've ever met any of you in Real Life but I may have done, as I was with Chelsea Ballet way back when. In fact, I see this is their 50th anniversary year and I danced in their 25th anniversary Gala. It's quite alarming how the time has flown! See you! Maureen