FullContretemps

Suzyszoo a button phobia (sorry to march into the thread and go off topic but this is rather exciting to me!)! I have always had a hatred of buttons and can't stnad them though I maintain it's not a phobia... and I have the same thing with ribbons and lace. Never met someone else who had that Anyway, back to topic I don't really have much to add, never having been to vocational school. I can be a fussy eater though and can appreciate what others have said about the more pressure the worse it gets. Apparently my Mum was worried when I was a teenager (she only just admitted this to me recently, aged 23) I might end up with an ED but through very careful treatment, not making a fuss about it or focussing on food, and letting me eat the things I wanted to eat (like Suzy's DS I would rather skip a meal than eat something I don't want), I turned out fine

This sounds amazing - I wish there was something like this where I live, but York to London after working 8-6 is not a practical commute!

When I was at York (graduated 2 years ago) there was a separate ballet society (still going strong I know) and dance society giving modern, tap, jazz, street as well as Dancesport (ballroom). There were only 2 levels of class though, and I, at Intermediate, was one of the most advanced in the advanced class so I went to classes at the local school of the teacher who taught at Uni. And it's her school I've gone back to now I've moved back to York. Many local schools are happy to have adults in either an adult ballet class, on with the teenagers, or both (as mine is ).

It sounds fascinating Anjuli - I wish I could have read it but I can definitely understand you cherishing the quiet evenings! *dashes off to Google to hunt out Anjuli's writings...*

Thank you for the really helpful tips everyone. No wonder I can only manage a very inelegant double (or occasionally treble with a very startled expression on my face!) as I can only balance for about a second in releve without turning and still often fall out of it! I'll be joining you in practice, practice, practice Just Ballet... Interesting points about the turnout of the leg affecting the balance of the turn too, as I have a feeling I let mine wander a bit. Also about pulling up the supporting leg as I have the opposite problem to swan princess, my legs never really looking fully straightened unless I really concentrate on it. But then I tend to think, ah well my legs don't straighten properly and just let them go soggy. Tut tut! Bring on those releves and first class back after the summer this week, so I will have space and a mirror, neither of which I have in my new house yet!

I never knew Anjuli had written a book. Branching out into other areas of the forum I am learning all sorts! May I ask what it is? I too have always admired your way of expressing things but didn't know there was a whole book to be found!

And it appears so easy... which I suppose theoretically it is - as you say Anjuli, be on balance and spot the head. Maybe being on balance would be a good place to start then... Any tips other than practise (usually while brushing teeth ) makes perfect for balancing?

I can give her an (relatively unscientific) incentive. When I was in senior school, for a couple of years I wore unsupportive/no shoes. Up until then my Mum had made me wear proper shoes and my feet had been fine. After that, my feet started majorly pronating and I got plantar fasciitis and shin splints when I danced a lot. I have recently had to get expensive custom orthotics made because even the off the shelf ones weren't doing the trick any more. So if she wants to avoid pain and having to spend lots of money, and to be able to carry on dancing at the rate, I'd advise shoes with some kind of support! Of course not everybody's feet would react as badly as that, and I do have a bit of hypermobility (everywhere except the knees, where it would look nice ) which doesn't help, but I would still err on the side of caution if possible. I is sometimes possible to find nicer shoes with support if you're prepared to look around/pay a bit more.

I agree with Tulip - beautiful! (As one would expect...) I have nothing against high extensions, except jealousy of course , but it is what you do with them that I think matters. I don't see (in my opinion) vulgar oversplits here; I see controlled beautiful lines supported by rock solid technique. But I also wouldn't complain if the extensions weren't so high, as long as the artistry remains. Thankfully for us mere mortals lines can be made equally beautiful (or ugly) whether high or low, though I'm not a fan of more than 180 degrees.

Done. Definitely worthwhile

I went one year quite a few years ago now. Would agree that it's quite different. I quite enjoyed it but mainly because I had never done anything like that before (I was a late starter and never been an associate or to vocational school or anything like that) so just getting to dance that amount every day was great! I seem to remember Anya was very nice but it was of course mostly her regular pupils who all knew each other. I would have gone back if I could have though as the teaching seemed good to me at the time and I did enjoy the dancing. Hope that's vaguely helpful not just a ramble - do ask if you have specific questions!

Anjuli I wish I could have you as a teacher! Or even that you lived somewhere reachable You always have such words of wisdom and such a deep understanding of everything that is a part of dance and a dancer. Your adult class (and all your students!) are extremely lucky to have such a wise teacher and mentor - your words are invaluable! When I was reading back about Anjuli's post to work out why it resonated so much, I think it is because of the time she gave and the relationship with students. That doesn't just go for adult classes of course, and neither just for dancing, but give your students time and take an interest in them as people and that will be what has the most, and the most lasting, value.

Ooh I appreciate this problem too! I've been so lucky with my dance school at home as our advanced class ranges from 15/16 up to 20s/30s. Mostly people who grew up in the school but a few people join in too and are so glad to find such provision in a small town! Now I'm moving I'll be going back to the same studio I was at when at Uni and my teacher is letting me join her class of teens again Apparently there's a couple of others my age (early 20s) but like DavidW they are only doing show work next term and I was just ready to take my Adv Foundation.She doesn't even teach Adv Foundation so I'll have to go straight to Adv1 in January but glad that there is something for me at least! Hope you find something!

Thanks Spanner - good idea if no-one knows anybody!

Evening all! I had a feeling I posted this question before, possibly on the old forum, but can't find anything on it by searching to have to ask again. I'm moving back to York in September and looking for a Dance School there. I might go back to my old teacher who I went to when I was at Uni there, but also looking around in case I find anywhere else. My main problem is that I'm 23 but looking for RAD vocational teaching, even though I'd never be anywhere near good enough to dance professionally. I took my Inter 2 years ago and passed with 45 and have been doing Adv Foundation and Grade 7 since then, and taking my Grade 7 in 3 weeks. I wouldn't mind doing Grade 8, but really like the challenge in the vocational grades so would like somewhere that offers them even though I'm not the most flexible/best turned out etc dancer. I don't mind going to a teenage class if the teacher and students don't mind, as I know I'm not likely to find a class at that level for adults! I also do a conditioning/limbering class at the moment, which is great for flexibility, strength, general workout etc but what some people might call quite hard core. Anyone know of anywhere that offers something like that? Doesn't have to be the same place as ballet... Thank you so much for your help! JC

Yes orthotics definitely work in trainers or Converse style shoes - I usually have to buy the next size up to fit them in. A couple of years ago I invested in some flip flops from American company SOLE and I swear by them. They are at least as good, if not better than my off the shelf Superfeet orthotics (my feet are only just getting bad enough for me to decide to go to a podiatrist as the off the shelf ones previously sorted most of my problems). They're designed specifically for people whose feet pronate (leading to shin splints etc) or who have a tendency towards plantar fasciitis, both of which I get intermittently or if I don't wear insoles. They're expensive but have lasted me 2 summers so far and still going strong, super comfy, you can get very pretty ones and I have no foot problems with them!

I didn't start dancing until I was 12 but ever since then I always wanted to do more but was limited (probably wisely I suppose) by my parents who thought that learning 3 musical instruments and doing a music group 4 school nights out of 5 and doing trampolining (which I did at the time) and ballet was enough. I loved it from the start and dropped trampolining so I could do more dancing, and as I started being able to pay for my own lessons I've just kept increasing them! My family think I'm absolutely barmy and it must be too exhausting but I work 40 hours a week and do 7-8+ hours of dancing. I spend my life counting down to the next dancing lesson and it's what keeps me sane! Call it an obsession, but they did recently note that during the holidays when I wasn't dancing I was really grumpy (oops!). I start getting depressed if I can't so I'd say keep a close eye on her as sometimes we get so obsessed we have to be told to take it down a peg, but usually we only do it because we love it and can't not do it!

Thank you so much Bruce - and Happy Christmas everyone!