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I Passed!!! Grade 6

Dormouse

By Dormouse
in Doing Dance

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Dormouse

Dormouse

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I'm 71, I had my very first lesson ten years ago, I've just got the news that I passed my RAD Grade 6. I'm soooo excited. I passed every section, and got 51% - not brilliant, but the six girls taking their exams (G5 & G3) on the same afternoon got between 40% and 52%. Also, during those ten years I've had an arthroscopy on my left knee, followed by a unicompartmental knee replacement three years ago.

 

Sorry folks, I just had to brag!

 

I hope I've got my tags correct, and that I'm posting this in the correct place. Apologies if I've got it wrong.

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Sim

Sim

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That is fantastic, Dormouse!  Congratulations!  You have proved in a wonderful way that it is never too late to start something new!  :)

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Balletfanp

Balletfanp

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That is brilliant - well done!

I'm interested in your comment about knee replacement as I have been told that is my next step, but they won't do it yet as I'm "too young" (and at 50 it's about the only occasion I am likely to be described as "too young" these days!). Just wondering how much it has affected you - are you able to do what you would have been able to do before having knee problems, would you say? I'm trying to hold off as long as possible, but if I have it done I would like to be able to continue doing Taekwondo, and I don't know if that's possible, or encouraged.

MAK

MAK

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Your post has put a huge smile on my face today! I am so impressed, Grade 6!! Thank you for sharing Dormouse ????

Dormouse

Dormouse

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That is brilliant - well done!

I'm interested in your comment about knee replacement as I have been told that is my next step, but they won't do it yet as I'm "too young" (and at 50 it's about the only occasion I am likely to be described as "too young" these days!). Just wondering how much it has affected you - are you able to do what you would have been able to do before having knee problems, would you say? I'm trying to hold off as long as possible, but if I have it done I would like to be able to continue doing Taekwondo, and I don't know if that's possible, or encouraged.

I know nothing about Taekwondo, only ballet and Pilates. I had the operation on 25th June 2013, and I walked out of the hospital with no walking aids the following morning. I was back in class before the end of term, and having private ballet lessons within four weeks. At that time I wasn't allowed to do grand plies. I started back at ballet classes (Inter. Found.) in the September, and started Grade 6 after half term (my other class, Intermediate, had folded). I couldn't touch my bum with my left heel for about a year, my right heel just whizzes straight in easily. Initially I was scared of damaging myself when I knelt and twisted at the end of a free-movement exercise, but I can do that again now. The only thing that is still uncomfortable is kneeling right back so that my bum touches both heels. I was fit when I went in for the op. so that helped my recovery. It is said that one regrets having the op. for about six weeks, and then one regrets not having it done sooner. My personal opinion is that those who say that new knees only last 15 to 20 years, are talking about operations that happened well over 15 years ago. Techniques have improved since then. Good Luck whatever you decide.

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LinMM

LinMM

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Wow well done Dormouse! To be dancing at 71 is brill but to take on grade 6 is both enterprising and brave ...you deserve to have a bit if a brag!

 

 

I've just finished a ballet summer school fir Adults and there was one lady in the class who was 84! But you'd never have guessed it.

 

Wishing you many happy years dancing

Balletfanp

Balletfanp

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I know nothing about Taekwondo, only ballet and Pilates. I had the operation on 25th June 2013, and I walked out of the hospital with no walking aids the following morning. I was back in class before the end of term, and having private ballet lessons within four weeks. At that time I wasn't allowed to do grand plies. I started back at ballet classes (Inter. Found.) in the September, and started Grade 6 after half term (my other class, Intermediate, had folded). I couldn't touch my bum with my left heel for about a year, my right heel just whizzes straight in easily. Initially I was scared of damaging myself when I knelt and twisted at the end of a free-movement exercise, but I can do that again now. The only thing that is still uncomfortable is kneeling right back so that my bum touches both heels. I was fit when I went in for the op. so that helped my recovery. It is said that one regrets having the op. for about six weeks, and then one regrets not having it done sooner. My personal opinion is that those who say that new knees only last 15 to 20 years, are talking about operations that happened well over 15 years ago. Techniques have improved since then. Good Luck whatever you decide.

Thank you Dormouse - it sounds as though there is hope for me yet! If I can do as well as you are obviously doing I will have no regrets. Congratulations again.

Colman

Colman

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Posted (edited)

Thank you Dormouse - it sounds as though there is hope for me yet! If I can do as well as you are obviously doing I will have no regrets. Congratulations again.

 

 

I've known people to get back on horseback infeasibly soon after double knee replacements (and start hunting soon after!), and my karate instructor is on his second set, I believe. 

Edited by Colman
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LinMM

LinMM

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Go for it Baby steps!!

 

The lady who was 84 on the course said she didn't take up ballet for the first time until her late 40's!

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Kate_N

Kate_N

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Wonderful, wonderful! Congratulations.

 

 

I said to a new teacher yesterday I hoped to dance till I was 70, which is less than 15 years away. But maybe I can still dance when I'm 80! 

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Dormouse

Dormouse

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Thank you for all your good wishes. I'm still over the moon about it. I'm upgrading my membership of the RAD from "friend" to "affiliate"! The new photograph was taken four years ago when I was the burgomaster in Coppelia.

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