munchkin16

Aileen: you are not wrong but I actually don't know what I'm doing next year, I'm still trying to explore every option and that may even be teaching ballet, although I will need to get my intermediate first. If necessary I will just stay and make the best of it, there is after all always something I can learn. One reason for me wanting to move which I didn't make clear was the atmosphere in class. I have other issues I'm dealing with and this class actually ends up making me feel pretty down when I leave after going in positive. I want to find a more positive learning enviroment if at all possible becuase even though its just a term I think it would be more healthy as I come out each class wanting to quit. Also, wherever I end up next year I do not intend to let ballet go, I think its important to have a passion and I hope to continue it wherever I am Balleteacher: I would really like to take at least one class over Christmas but I don't know where still runs them. Do you have any suggestions?

Mimi66: I have never looked at it that way, it does make a lot of sense as I think she is allowing me to start being more independent and I always try to apply other peoples corrections as well. I love the analogy and if I stay I will try to look at it that way, but I feel like when I do get personal attention, she is still seeing the dancer I was, not how far I have progressed which even I will admit was possibly faster than anyone expected, the girls I am moving up with had been in grade 6 a term before I moved up, yet we nearly took the exam together. I do not want to seem like I crave praise, but occasionally it is nice to be told if you actually improved something, but the silence makes me feel as though I am not making progress. When she says 'tuck your tail in' she means to tuck my pelvis under so my bottom doesn't stick out. She has explained it before and I do try to do it, but I have a very curvy back, so if it slips it is a lot more noticeable! The comment is more of a reminder, but it is pretty much the only one I get all class.

Thank you so much for your help, you have all given me alot to think about. Firstly, term has now finished so talking to her probably isn't possible. I don't feel like she is particularly approachable. I have asked her in the past what I need to work on and said 'just keep doing what you are doing and work hard!' To be honest I dont think she's used to being asked that kind of question. Dance sugar plum: you pretty much just summed up exactly how I'm feeling! I had forgotten about the notice thing, that might indeed make things awkward. Pas de chat: associate classes aren't really possible, I think you have to be under 18 don't you? Although my covering teacher did used to teach associates I think. I would move straight away to the covering teacher's studio but its too far away to be practical with school. The problem is that I only really have a term left at any school so I'm not sure I can switch for that short amount of time! Aileen: absolutely you make an excellent point. I am not complaining (I hope) just stating that her attention is not fairly distrubuted. I would like to think I was always positive and hard working in class. I arrive early, most students are actually late and am always prepared. I make sure I know the excercises ect. The favourite complains during stretches, came with her hair down and says she doesnt want to get sweaty or does things half heartedly until she has the teachers attention. Honestly, I would never complain of a favourite if they had the positive attitude you describe. Taxi4ballet: terms have finished I think, but I will research and see if anything is possible, even an adult class, although I was hoping to start working towards intermediate. I gave her my reasons for not doing the exam (too expensive and too much pressure atm) and she kept pushing it. Honestly it felt like she was chasing the money, do teachers make a profit from exams? I hope it doesn't seem like I lost interest, she did observe the other teacher's class before the exam so saw me working just as hard as the other girls, knowing the theory and actually dancing a lot of it alone as the other teacher made me do exercises solo! I will look into other schools but I don't really know where to start....

I'm visiting parliament on Monday for a tour so if anyone wants me to pass a letter on to someone important... I've ordered a prospectus from RAD about the teacher training courses but am doubting my abilities to do this. Notation looks fascinating but a little too artistic! Meadowblythe: arts administration sounds really interesting, any idea what's involved? Hfbrew: Hmm I may well do so, but what sort of job prospects would it have?

I've been dancing with the same teacher for two and a half years and I'm starting to feel more and more that she just doesn't want me to suceed. I am the oldest in the class by 3 years at least and although I consistently work hard the only correction I really ever get is to 'tuck my tail in' which I am working hard to do! As soon as she found out I wasn't doing the exam, she pretty much ignored me. There must be something good or bad about my work, yet I don't get either compliments nor criticism. I was landing doubles (I think!) And she said nothing, despite repeating the exercise twice. We had a new teacher covering one lesson a week and she taught me so much and still challenged me despite the fact I wasn't doing the exam. I feel I could reach intermediate if I work hard, but my teacher seems to want to hold me back. Maybe I'm over estimating my abilities and a little upset over the lack of attention, not because I want it but I am paying and the teacher does have obvious favourites... is this normal?

I want to thank you all for your help, these have all made me think really hard about the direction I want to go in. 2 years ago I would have said physio sounds amazing because I would love to help dancers but biology wasn't my favourite subject exactly costume sounds amazing but sewing pointe shoes is my limit I think, although I could start charging others for it hmmm... marketing sounds fascinating, I think there is always so much more companies could do to advertise and get ballet more accepted, does anyone know what is involved in marketing or how to get into it? I hate writing so journalism is out, I'm eloquent enough in person but give me a pen and it looks like a 3 year old wrote it, although I wish I could get paid to watch ballets I do write extremely fast though, any jobs with that skill? Ultimately it seems that perhaps politics will be the best way to support the arts, I think I might have to look into that again, minister for the arts maybe? (if that exists!) Sorry for the ramblings, this has been truly helpful so thank you just wondering, what would you need to do to become a pointe shoe fitter? The shoes girls are wearing in my school scare me!

I'm researching my options for next year and am struggling to find anything that I am really passionate about other than dance, so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of careers in the dance world (preferably ballet!) that don't require lots of dance experience? I haven't been dancing all that long, 2 years for grade 4 modern then 2 1/2 years of ballet where I could have taken my grade 6 at the end of this term. I know teaching requires at least intermediate which I am about to start but I am unsure of my skill as both a dancer or teacher. I would love to find something related to dance as I am dedicated (perhaps too much so) and would prefer it to studying politics at university!

Most good universities look at A level grades and so will ask for say AAB. My ballet teacher tried to tell me to do the exam for the ucas reason but to be honest even the universities that ask for say 280 points might specify that these only come from say 3 A Levels. If she wants to go to university, I would say the time is better spent studying and just dancing for fun. She can always bring in her past achievements and dedication to ballet by mentioning it in her personal statement if she does want to teach I was researching diplomas in dance education and it says you can apply with just intermediate. If not I would think she could always take the advanced exam later, after college even if she decides to go a more dance route. Not sure if this is at all helpful but good luck to her in her GCSEs, my sister is just starting her mocks so I understand the pressure!

I agree it is easy to get stuck at the barre and we do spend too long on the earlier exercises but I think it is also important for making sure we are properly warm. 1 1/2 hours seems like a good length to fit a decent warm up and time to develop on centre work and I definitely notice I make more progress in a longer class over my hour on Mondays. I can imagine it would be easier to get injured doing big jumps without a thorough barre.

Thank you all for your replies, I guess the cost isn't really that bad, its just feels alot in one go! The prices are per 10 week term and that does include a pianist which makes me lucky and he is also very friendly and patient when the studio is cold! We dance in a first floor room which just has wood floors but we do get portable barres and 3 movable mirrors. I haven't asked why there has been an increase, I think I will leave it unless it rises again just wondering how you ever get anything done in a 45 minute class, especially at a vocational grade?

mimi66: I would love to take another class there, the atmosphere and being around such amazing dancers was good but scary! last time I went I was at standard 5 level. I have now been doing ballet for 2 and a half years roughly after starting at 16 and am just about to move into intermediate from grade 6 so I am still unsure if elementary is going to be too hard...

Pineapple descriptions aren't very helpful, they say for elementary you only need to know the difference between a tendu and a fondu and a basic knowledge of ballet. That doesn't suggest that it will be aimed at intermediate level which meant when I went about a year ago I found it really hard! They should be more careful with descriptions if they want to make sure the right level people are in the class, at least so they aren't embarrassed like I was.

Must have been writing at the same time balletmum! Your welcome think argos sell one which isn't too expensive but is relatively heavy, depends on how hard you want to make it!

What about a cross trainer? Builds stamina but less stress on legs than running.

This isn't for stamina necessarily but certainly an easy way to gain core strength I've found is hula hooping! If you get one of the proper fitness ones which are slightly weighted it is really good and I prefer it to sit ups or the plank as it is much less painful and I can watch tv at the same time. core strength is always good for pointe work.

Never tried it and the advert actually just makes me want to get up and dance!

I don't know whether people would be willing to answer my question but how much is too expensive for a class? I dance at a smallish school and take two classes plus pointe each week. Every term our teacher has raised the price of each class by £1, not a lot but when added together... this means grade 6 next term will now cost £73. The second class (also an hour) is reduced to £49 and half an hour of pointe is £44. I have no idea how this compares I just feel she could continue to raise the prices without saying anything and get away with it!

Well it sounds really good, now I just need to see if I can afford it... I know its probably not an issue but I am trained in the cechetti method, will the class be very different?

The city academy course looks really good. I'm 18 and I do grade 6 ballet, about to start intermediate, would it be too hard? Is it worth the money? I've been wanting to do something like this for ages and being at the ROH woukd be incredible but I'm not sure I'm brave enough!

Pointe shoes: I think my mum used move dancewear for some of my stuff and they seemed good but maybe more expensive/less selection but the website is nice another two are planet dancedirect and porselli but I have never ordered from these so I can't say if they are any good, the stuff is just always tempting! Hope this helps.

Thank you for all your advice, think the easiest thing will probably just be borrowing one by the sounds of it! The leotard has to be the one through the school so I don't think I will find it online, cechetti is very fussy. Not too bothered if I ruin my burgundy one, it is really horrible to wear, I don't know why the school chose them of all the leotards! but dying it is probably too much effort anyway.

My uniform leotard for grade 6 is supposed to be black for my exam in November but I was wondering if anyone knows if it would be possible to dye my grade 5 burgundy one? It's a plain nylon tank one with a matching belt. I normally wear any black leotard for class so I don't really want to buy a new uniform one just for my exam! Thank you for your help.

I'm thinking of booking tickets for this for my mum's birthday, probably for Madame Butterfly. I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about the scheme/the production and whether it is worth it. Thank you

Think the new style capezio shoes have a skived shank or something so I think they are supposed to do that, otherwise mine are faulty too... £54!!! Even in the capezio store my tiffany's weren't that much. Think they should have been were around £49 without discount. I would be slightly concerned if the shop is charging you exactly the same for different makes of shoes, I know Grishko's can be more expensive but charging the same for capezio's....

Sansha hasn't actually closed for good, says on their Facebook page it is reopening in September so don't panic!