Angela Essex

Just got to say I was there tonight and my word Yasmine Nagdhi was a stunning SPF ❤️❤️❤️ Every little flourish of the music interpreted perfectly. She even made those odd steps in middle of dance of spf look effortless and elegant (sorry idk what they’re called as I’m a newbie but it looked like she was moving all her arms & legs at once during a jump 🤷‍♀️)Pure magic.

Wow that is impressive 🙌🙌🙌 I am struggling to fit my 2 classes in a week, what with work, kids and weight training, but I’d love to get to that stage eventually. Think I might have to start planning for a third class each week …..

Wow really NJH, I had no idea. I’d been thinking pointe work was the result of many years hard graft - how inspiring though. I’m 45 so I’m thinking it’s not necessarily going to happen for me on account of my age, but I’d literally be happy just to take a beginners class and not be the worst one there for a change at this stage of proceedings 😂 Yes, Pineapple for me tomorrow night. Suppose I’d best get used to travelling about to classes 😭

Hello Michelle, Sorry you’re having a rough week, but impressive that you’ve started pointe work as an adult 🙌🙌🙌. It’s inspiring reading about your ballet journey. I started ballet in September at the ripe old age of 45 having literally never danced a step in my life and am loving it. I started on one class a week at my local dance school and recently joined Hannah Frosts Pineapple adult beginners ballet. Just wondering if there’s any adult beginners classes you’d recommend please? And any tips for adult beginners? I’m in Essex, so the more local the better, but I’m thinking I might have to travel or do more zoom classes? Many thanks in advance 🙏

200kg 😮😮😮 fabulous! And here I am feeling hard done to with 12.5kg on my barbell 😂 I’m only doing 4-6 x 30 mins a week but am reaching overload at between 6 and 12kg depending on the exercise. Yes my pt usually includes a few stretches at the end. Hope your back gets better soon x

Yes TSR! I’m so glad you mentioned those things. I’m new to ballet, but I noticed the timing issues with Osipova too. I’m familiar with the music having played it in Orchestras. There was a pas de deux in which she wasn’t in time as well as dance of the SPF and yes, the sparkle wasn’t there for me either. Agree about the Corps too spacing was off at times. I think if an untrained eye such as myself can see these things then yes it’s not the most ideal performance. It was magical but not perfect - having said that idk why we even expect perfection as people are just human beings doing their best and I was transported to another world for 2 hours so 🤷‍♀️ Also agree about Reece Clark I was looking for his biography in the Principals section of the programme and I thought they’d accidentally left him out of it. I was quite shocked to find he was a first soloist as he literally was stand out amazing for me. In my humble opinion Olivia Cowley should be promoted too her Arabian Princess was breathtaking.

Hello Emeralds I was there tonight. It was amazing. I’m new to ballet so can’t really comment about Osipova save to say that she was amazing, but having said that Reece Clark as the Prince was a showstopper - he just stood out to me as an absolute total star. Every move perfection. Took my breath away. Ditto Olivia Cowley as the Arabian Princess - she was utterly mesmerising. Really her and Reece were the stand out amazing moments for me. And the snowflakes ❤️❤️❤️❤️ The set as well 😮😮😮😮. And amazing performances from the children too.

Yass! Love it! I’m a big fan of a comedy correction 😂 It’s like I’ve paid for ballet class but got free side order of stand up comedy too 😆

Aww thanks Tango between the weights and ballet I’m constantly aching so definitely going to have a nice Epsom salt bath this weekend 😊 Yes I think I need to re start yoga to get everything stretched out properly. Gosh I’m going to be busy ……

Update: Did Hannah Frost’s Pineapple class yesterday evening by Zoom. After having a hard time getting used to doing a class by zoom last week it was actually much easier on zoom this time around. Got to say I love her style of teaching. Her Corrections are so funny 🤣 “I see you on Zoom Angela digging your toe into the ground - yes I see you” 😂😂. Also threats to send ppl to the ballet incident room next door to the studio for doing crimes against ballet and Kung Fu Panda leg. Also telling ppl to go join a different type of class if they want to shake their booty 😂. I won’t lie I was laughing out loud. Gosh an hour and a half class was hard work though. My glutes and lower back are achey today 😭 I think I may take a trip into London next Thursday to attend in person. 🥰

😂😂😂

Oops just seen this - No I don’t mind at all 😊 I’m 22 - 30mins to Liverpool Street by the fastest trains so getting to London is okay, it’s just expensive.

I’m going on Saturday night too. I checked her Instagram yesterday, but nothing on it to suggest she won’t be dancing on Sat.

Hello Alex, Glad to hear there are other adult beginners out there 😊 I think I need more instruction in the fundamentals so I’m going to give Hannah Frosts beginner class at Pineapple another try via zoom this week on either Thursday or Friday evening. I do weight training 4 x a week and was regularly doing yoga before I started with the ballet so strength and flexibility are okay for me it’s just learning to do the steps properly and with good technique that I’m finding challenging. Also my memory is terrible. By the time the teacher has explained the exercise to us and I’ve marked it I literally instantly forget what I’m supposed to be doing 🤦‍♀️ I struggle with remembering what arm and leg I’m supposed to be on in the centre all the time and struggle to remember combinations in the centre too. My balance isn’t an absolute disaster, but there’s a LOT of room for improvement there too. It’s a work in progress. I’m loving the challenge though.

Thanks Capybara that’s good to know. I’ll be doing that this Saturday when I see The Nutcracker 😂

No tbh I don’t think he did. One of the party was a wheelchair user so maybe the phone was on for medical reasons so possibly the usher felt awkward saying anything idk? Another lady in my row (row C / back row of balcony) moved in the interval too except she didn’t ask the usher. Hopefully I won’t be party to any inappropriate phone use when I go and see Nutcracker on Saturday evening 🤞🤞🤞

A couple of weeks ago during Giselle at ROH there were a group of 3 people in front of me. Their phones went off 3 x during the first half and they were talking a bit too. I told the usher and for the second Act I was moved to some empty seats that are reserved for the company staff - right at the front of the balcony. Couldn’t believe the phones and talking - literally my jaw dropped onto the floor 😮😮 I do have to admit to some foot stamping and cheering at the end of the performance though - I was quite excited to be there 🥰 and didn’t realise that wasn’t the done thing? Might have to tone it down for my next visit 😂

Looks fabulous to me. I love Marianela she is amaaaayzing - utter perfection.

Selling 1 ticket for RB Romeo & Juliet Thursday 13th January 7pm - Nunez/Bonelli Amphitheater A8 lower slips £10

Update: just randomly found 2 scs for Osipova / Clarke on 4th Dec - while browsing the roh website -can’t believe it. Clearly the gods of ballet are smiling on me 😂 So I’m all sorted now. Am literally beyond excited - can’t wait for 4th Dec - I’ve never seen RB do Nutcracker - yayyy! 🎉

Does anyone have any Nutcracker tickets they’d like to sell please? Ideally 2 tickets for 27/11, but I would consider 1 or 2 tickets for any date. Tried to get Friday Rush tickets but no luck 😭 Many thanks, Angela

Update: Linn - Thanks heaps. Harlow Ballet do an adult beginner class on Tuesday evening so I’ll try that on Tuesday. Kate N. Thank you for your suggestion Yesterday evening I did Hannah Frosts Pineapple adult beginner class on zoom. She was amazing. So thorough and she was really keeping an eye on all the zoom people. The thing is doing ballet as a beginner by zoom didn’t really work for me - my computer screen was too small to really see the teachers footwork and I had to put the screen several feet away so she could see my whole body properly in the camera. Having said that I absolutely loved the class - Ms Frost was so funny. I’m not used to 1.5 hour classes so it was tough but the commentary was absolute gold. Telling people off for ‘Kung fu panda’ feet and saying any wrong moves and she would send us to the ballet incident room next door for doing a crime against ballet and no shaking our booty - if we want to shake our booty we can go downstairs to the street dance class too funny 😂😂😂 I’m now thinking how and when I can sneak off into London to do the class in person. Gosh this could start to become an expensive hobby…..

Hi Linn! Thank you for your reply. Yes it is pretty easy to get to Harlow - I work there so I’m there most days. Is there a class there? Romford is accessible too. Yes I did gymnastics as a child and a lot of dancing with friends & family but never took any classes. I’ve done a fair bit of yoga in recent years too.

Hi Legs, thanks heaps for replying. Lol yes I am mostly wanting to lie down and weep after the centre work 😂 I think we just do the intermediate barre then the centre my teacher devises herself. Thankfully I don’t think the centre is the intermediate syllabus. Thanks to everyone who has replied. It’s been so heartwarming to receive all your encouraging comments and I will definitely be starting an online beginners course. I keep hearing great things about Hannah Frost’s class so I’m thinking that’d be a good place to start. Feeling very grateful to you all 🙏. As a side note I turned up to my second class of the week today (I’m normally at work so can’t make the daytime class, but had a day off) My teacher was surprised to see me and commented that I was very keen and focused in class last night - win!! I’m still the worst one there but everyone loves a trier 😆.

I’m in South Essex, the nearest cities are Chelmsford (30 mins) London (30-60 mins by train) or Colchester (1hr). Someone on here reccomended beginners adult ballet class that the Chelmsford ballet run but sadly only the general class is still going, not the adult beginners. Yes I really like ballet in particular. I think it’s because I like the music and I find the movements quite meditative in a way. It’s hard to explain but because I’m concentrating so hard I leave the world behind. Thank you for the online class recommendation I’ll definitely check it out as I think you’re right - an online class in addition to the one I already do is the way forward.