munchkin16

Oops I should have mentioned that! Surrey/Hampshire. I can give more specific location privately if someone has any ideas. Anywhere accessible by public transport would be fine.

My work schedule has made it impossible to attend an actual ballet class on a regular basis and I'm really missing it. I can get to London possibly about once a month to do open classes but it isn't enough. So I'm seeking a private ballet teacher who might be willing to do the occasional class with me? During the day and most likely a Monday or Tuesday. Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations? I'm a young adult at low intermediate level. I hate to think I might have to give up ballet because there's nothing available. Thank you!

I went to the gala he did back in 2012 and really enjoyed it. My mum loved it so much that she's asked me to book the one in December for her birthday. We have tickets now so I hope it's as good as the last one! Tickets aren't that expensive either as far as I remember.

There are plenty of cheaper places to stay in Belfast that aren't too far to walk from the theatre. I always felt safe walking around that area and even a taxi to a cheaper hotel might work out less than Europa. Just a thought.

Could you make something like this? Buy a cheap leotard. Add a long chiffon skirt. Tie a thicker ribbon at the join to make a sash. Or something more creative. I needed a costume for a performance and took a piece of chiffon sewn at one shoulder and put it over a leotard with a ribbon tied around. It didn't look too bad and was very cheap. Just a though

There was one in the programme I had but I didn't get a chance to read it before the performance. It wouldn't have helped with the overwhelming moments when the screen was down and the lights, effects and corps made the stage very busy and difficult to focus. I couldn't work out what was happening then!

16 for musical theatre is definitely not true. A lot of respected musical theatre courses only take from 18 so uni aged. Even then it is pretty well known they like the students to be mature and sometimes prefer to take slightly older students when they have a bit more 'world experience' and aren't just straight out of school. I've known a lot of musical theatre and acting students at well known schools who got in the second or third time auditioning. Now maybe they improve lots between times but I also think age and growth in maturity are a factor. Musical theatre does take grit and determination in a lot of the same ways as dance but there's a bit less of a rush!

I think that may be the problem. In order to truly understand Raven Girl and connect with it maybe you have to see it more than once. Which for many of us just isn't financially possible. So we will never discover the small details that reveal themselves in multiple viewings. Making it slightly less accessible as a ballet perhaps? I saw it on Tuesday night and I have to say visually it was impressive. There were bits that made me go wow, that's beautiful. Unfortunately a lot of the time I was mostly lost, confused and finding it weird. I felt sorry for the corps who sort of seemed like fillers between the main scenes flapping around (although they did a fabulous job.) I actually preferred Olivia Cowley (I think it was) in her dancing of the Raven over Sarah Lamb when they were dancing side by side. The final pas de deux was probably the highlight, along with the reveal of the wings for the stunning effect. Connectome was mesmerising but I wouldn't choose it as a ballet. Again it was beautiful visually and I liked the music but it was just sort of bland. Too abstract for me. The dancers were incredible though, I loved seeing Lauren Cuthbertson back and it was nice to see some men highlighted. They were all very impressive. Overall I really enjoyed seeing them but I wouldn't choose to go back. I would consider myself a pretty strong ballet fan and I think my main issue is that these two pieces are perhaps not too accessible to a wider, new audience. Frankly I think it might put a few people off. Also I think it's possible that those dancing in it may love it more than those watching it. Maybe I'm wrong but they both seem like pieces that would be really cool or beautiful/challenging to dance which is why they come across as being enjoyed by the company but perhaps do not translate as well to an audience who isn't involved in the process or piece. All the same I admire Wayne and the company for doing something a bit different, I was certainly challenged watching the pieces.

For the big bun pins there's a skill in putting them in so they stay. The thicker ones are better and don't slide out as much but you also need to angle them away from the head before tucking under. That way they catch the hair properly and stay! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cHi3NICopjE https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RwxxR6Jwlfk These both show a perfect bun and the second one you can see what I'm talking about with the angle of the pins although she's using the closed type.

That's amazing, I was waiting for someone to do that! Tastes better than the ballet version...

I'm on my phone so I can try and do it tomorrow but for the moment if you google the words 'cinnamon bun ballet' there are a few to give you an idea. The other one is harder to show but maybe I'll have to do a video or something! It took me ages to get my bun looking nice but now I can do a few different types pretty quickly. It gets easier! There's also a really cute bun called the Balanchine bun which is great if you have slightly longer hair and gives a really nice line in the head and neck, it's definitely my favourite at the moment but a lot more complicated.

For the perfect cinnamon bun: put the hair in a nice high, right smooth ponytail. Split the hair in the ponytail into two. Twist one piece and as you twist, start wrapping it round the hair elastic holding your ponytail. As you wrap, pin it down tight and flat. Keep going until that piece is all pinned in. Repeat with the second piece of hair but obviously now wrapping around the first. It should create a flat, spiral effect bun. Add a bun net and hopefully it should look good! It takes practice but it looks beautiful when done right. Alternatively if you want a really flat bun: start with a high ponytail as before. Twist all the hair in one go and wrap around the ponytail but don't pin. Holding it in place wrap a bun net over the bun a couple of times. Now let the hair loosen out slightly and shape so it is flat and even before pinning lots and lots round the sides. Tips for pinning: use bun pins not hair grips. Thick ones are better, especially for thick hair. Put one side of the pin into the edge angling away from the bun then poke in and under. Hard to explain but it's aiming to catch the outside of the bun and the hair on the head and get them to hold it better. Practice makes perfect, especially when you aren't in a hurry. I can try and find pictures if you need them. Hope that makes sense!

I think getting the perfect bun can sometimes depend on your hair length and type. Is your hair long? Are you looking for the really simple bun or have you tried the cinnamon style one? I found that when I had long hair, the cinnamon type bun was easier to get perfect. Now I have shoulder length hair I tend to do it a bit differently. Also a bun net and the longer thicker bun pins are important to getting it just right!

And when you are reading the forum on your phone at work whilst making cheesecakes. Oops!

When read this forum whilst eating breakfast

Has anyone tried the beginners ballet class at danceworks on a Tuesday at 4:30pm. Think it's taught by Christina-Maria Mittelmaier? Just wondering what people thought of the class and what level it was actually aimed at as open classes can be tricksy! Thanks!

I have a narrow foot but I had the same problem with too much fabric rather than the shoe being too wide. If you need a canvas shoe that flatters every type of foot try the so Danca stretch canvas one. Everyone in my class ended up wearing it, so it looked like a uniform shoe but really we all just loved it even though we had completely different feet!

Haven't posted here in a while but thought I'd add my thoughts after trying an adult class at the London Russian Ballet School. I did the beginner level (one up from absolute beginner) and it was amazing! I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a slow technical class to work the basics. The we were in was lovely but small although as we spent a lot of the time at the barre it wasn't an issue. The class was about 1 1/2 hours and we started with a long set gentle warm up. Then worked through plié and tendus facing the barre before turning to the side. Everything was done slowly and precisely but the teacher also highlighted the importance of eyelines and use of the head regularly. The centre was simple and there wasn't much space to move but the combinations were cute with a polka step and balances. I can definitely feel all my muscles have been working and engaged in the right way, hopefully building my strength again. The teacher was nice, corrected individually by physically moving arms ect and also have constant class corrections and reminders. Demonstrated and talked through each excercise but I was never bored, she was always pushing for perfect technique. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in London!

Also the Red Shoes school looks very professional but it didn't look like they did adult classes?

Unfortunately that's probably too far to walk in a dark evening. I need to learn to drive! On the positive side I'm in London tomorrow so I'm trying the beginners adult drop in class at London Russian ballet school... Anyone have any tips to prepare me?! I got a message back from the First Dance place in Woking that has a convenient timed class so I might give that a go at some point too.

I'm reading and absorbing all the information! Just waiting for my friend to decide on dates so we haven't booked yet but I think I'd love to see Cuthbertson or one of the new couples. If not anything with Vadim has got to be good right

No it's great to have a personal recommendation! I've emailed them and am going to give it a try but might have to figure out how to get there as it isn't that close to the station... Friday nights sound amazing but that's my really busy night at work so there's no way I can get the time off to get there and back as well

Thanks this is actually very accessible and Monday nights would work but I was a little concerned looking at the timetable that adult ballet is only 45 minutes. Isn't that a bit short?! I've always thought that a proper class was supposed to be at least 1hr if not ideally 1.5hrs?

Thank you everyone for your help, I managed to find one I thought would work actually in my town but unfortunately the teacher completely put me off and I'm normally not fussy! I'm still recovering from being really ill over summer so those are probably too far for a regular basis on top of work unfortunately. Has anyone heard of First Dance in Woking? Any idea what they are like? I looked at their timetable and they might actually have a class at the right time! I looked at Woking Dance space but the evening classes are too late for trains with work early the next morning

So would Sarah lamb be worth seeing if I can't get tickets for Lauren cuthbertson?