Terpsichore Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 (edited) ......................... I've been 'lurking' on here for a while, but felt compelled to sign up and post after seeing Terpsichore's review of.. my regular ballet class! ......................... Anyway - Terpsichore, I'm so glad you enjoyed the class, and sorry about my adopted home city's terrible road system - I still get lost! The class was a bit different from what we've been used to - more time on the barre and a bit of a faster pace in the centre - but I thought Fiona was great I usually stay for the Improvers and Beginners Pointe (though I'm not back on pointe yet, but working towards it) but wasn't able to last night. It would be lovely to say hello if you come through to Sheffield again! .......................... First let me welcome you to this forum. I am delighted that you have joined. You will definitely see me next week. I would like to have come the week after next but I have an appeal to argue on the 27. You will also see me whenever Fiona cancels a class in Huddersfield which happens if she can't get a quorum for her Tuesday class. I will look out for you next week. I was the old lady at the stern of the travelling bar on the port side. I come to Sheffield quite frequently so am used to the traffic. I chair the Sheffield inventors club and I have a lot of other connections with the city. I can usually find my way around. I did a little bit of Highland dancing when I was at St Andrews. In fact it was the Highland dancing teacher who led me into ballet. I had only a few lessons at each but enjoyed both tremendously. You speak a lot of sense about levels of classes. As I was not sure of the level of the improvers class I texted Fiona at the weekend to see whether she thought I could cope with it and she replied that I could. Edited May 14, 2014 by terpsichore 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Welcome to the forum Red - hope to hear lots more from you 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O`Brien Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Welcome to the forum,red. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 Hello all! I've been 'lurking' on here for a while, but felt compelled to sign up and post after seeing Terpsichore's review of.. my regular ballet class! Hello Red and welcome to the Forum. I do hope that we will hear more from you now that you have come out of the lurking shadows! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 First let me welcome you to this forum. I am delighted that you have joined. You will definitely see me next week. I would like to have come the week after next but I have an appeal to argue on the 27. You will also see me whenever Fiona cancels a class in Huddersfield which happens if she can't get a quorum for her Tuesday class. I will look out for you next week. I was the old lady at the stern of the travelling bar on the port side. I come to Sheffield quite frequently so am used to the traffic. I chair the Sheffield inventors club and I have a lot of other connections with the city. I can usually find my way around. I did a little bit of Highland dancing when I was at St Andrews. In fact it was the Highland dancing teacher who led me into ballet. I had only a few lessons at each but enjoyed both tremendously. You speak a lot of sense about levels of classes. As I was not sure of the level of the improvers class I texted Fiona at the weekend to see whether she thought I could cope with it and she replied that I could. Thank you for all the lovely welcomes! Terpsichore, fantastic that you'll be there again next week, I should be there for the Beginners class at least. I think I've figured out who you are (had to think about the shipping directions a bit there, and certainly didn't see any old ladies! ) I was on the main barre, I'm quite short, with reddish (dyed) hair with a fringe, and glasses. My dance school when I was young focussed on ballet and Highland - our teachers used to recommend that the Highland dancers did ballet to help their technique, and ballet dancers to take Highland for extra strength and stamina. Apparently my jumps are fairly good and I suspect that years of bouncing up and down in the Fling and Sword Dance had some influence there! Thanks for posting those brilliant videos Spannerandpony - off to have a good watch of those... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O`Brien Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 I can definately see the connection between Highland dancers and young girls doing ballet. Maybe it`s because they have their hair in a bun like the ballet students,and their posture,but there is more to it too,just the way they move. So i`m not surprised when you say that they also used to take ballet lessons. You can see it . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayKwok Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 One of the reasons why I love watching ballet is that each dancer brings a different flavour to a role. They might do this by their own projection / acting / expression, but sometimes they achieve this by actually changing the steps. So every Odette / Odile is different. Every Aurora is different. Sometimes this interpretation works with the overall narrative, sometimes it doesn't. And it makes me then think why one particular interpretation worked and another didn't. And also leads to the question of if we can really still say "choreography by Petipa" because over time the choreography must have changed so much. What I wouldn't give for a time machine to go back to the Petipa era and see those ballets when they first premiered. Sorry might have gone off topic a bit...!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terpsichore Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 ................................... Terpsichore, fantastic that you'll be there again next week, I should be there for the Beginners class at least. I think I've figured out who you are (had to think about the shipping directions a bit there, and certainly didn't see any old ladies! ) I was on the main barre, I'm quite short, with reddish (dyed) hair with a fringe, and glasses. My dance school when I was young focussed on ballet and Highland - our teachers used to recommend that the Highland dancers did ballet to help their technique, and ballet dancers to take Highland for extra strength and stamina. Apparently my jumps are fairly good and I suspect that years of bouncing up and down in the Fling and Sword Dance had some influence there! .............................................................. I've just returned from Fiona's Wednesday night class at Huddersfield University. I also bumped into her in Sainsburys afterwards. She enjoyed her first week at Hype Dance very much. You guys must have impressed her and you certainly impressed me. All my contemporaries at St Andrews who did ballet also did Highland dancing though the converse was not true. There are many similarities and parallels. Both require precision and concentration. Despite your kind words I really am now too slow and too weak to take up Highland dancing again. However, your post prompted me to reconsider Scottish country dancing. I see that there are RSCDS branches in Brighouse, Leeds, Sheffield and Wakefield. I shall contact them in due course. Looking forward to seeing you next week. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 I can definately see the connection between Highland dancers and young girls doing ballet. Maybe it`s because they have their hair in a bun like the ballet students,and their posture,but there is more to it too,just the way they move. So i`m not surprised when you say that they also used to take ballet lessons. You can see it . Yep, there are a lot of similarities in technique. The differences confused me sometimes when I was doing a lot of classes, e.g. I used to have to keep remembering to switch my hands from Highland to ballet 'mode'! Despite your kind words I really am now too slow and too weak to take up Highland dancing again. However, your post prompted me to reconsider Scottish country dancing. I see that there are RSCDS branches in Brighouse, Leeds, Sheffield and Wakefield. I shall contact them in due course. Looking forward to seeing you next week. Brilliant! Having grown up in Scotland I associate Scottish country dancing with our annual school Christmas dances, which were.. well, you can imagine the general embarrassment and chaos that surrounded trying to get a load of teenagers to dance with each other... The actual dancing was great fun though. I searched for Highland classes locally a while ago, thinking about trying it again, but couldn't find anything nearby. I've been to the jazz classes at Hype a few times, and really want to do more of that - again, lots of similarities to ballet but the differences definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. Loving all the different videos - so inspiring 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terpsichore Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 This morning students of the Northern Ballet Academy's Over 55 Class danced in the space behind the Stanley and Audrey Burton Theatre. This theatre is attached to Northern Ballet's studios and offices. Both Northern Ballet and visiting companies have danced there. The thought of dancing on the boards where many of my heroes and heroines have danced is quite delicious but also quite daunting. I find it far more formidable than presenting a difficult case to a tetchy judge. We had our first run through today and the ballet is beginning to take shape. It is a wonderful experience and one that I had never expected. Certainly not at my time of life. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 This morning students of the Northern Ballet Academy's Over 55 Class danced in the space behind the Stanley and Audrey Burton Theatre. This theatre is attached to Northern Ballet's studios and offices. Both Northern Ballet and visiting companies have danced there. The thought of dancing on the boards where many of my heroes and heroines have danced is quite delicious but also quite daunting. I find it far more formidable than presenting a difficult case to a tetchy judge. We had our first run through today and the ballet is beginning to take shape. It is a wonderful experience and one that I had never expected. Certainly not at my time of life. How exciting! And lovely to meet you tonight, hope you enjoyed the class again. I'm really enjoying being made to think about everything in such detail - ribs, ribs, ribs! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terpsichore Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 How exciting! And lovely to meet you tonight, hope you enjoyed the class again. I'm really enjoying being made to think about everything in such detail - ribs, ribs, ribs! It was lovely to meet you too. I thank you and everyone else in the beginners and improvers classes for your very welcome. I felt very much at home. As you can see, Fiona is a good teacher so I shall follow her back to Huddersfield when your new permanent teacher takes over the beginners and improvers' classes but I will come back as often as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Last night's class was so moving. One of the people I know from that class had come back to ballet after nearly a year off ballet. She had a stroke which then caused her to be hospitalised for months on end. From the very beginning she was determined to go back to ballet again, no matter what, which initially medical experts were not so sure about. She recovered well enough to be discharged from the hospital about a few month ago, working very hard, re-learning to walk and all other things, and now she is back in the class room, dancing ballet again! Such a precious thing, being in a class and dancing... 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 What a wonderful outcome for this lady and yes it is a precious thing. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Mimi66, that is amazing and so touching. Thank you for sharing this . x 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Mimi, that is so wonderful and inspirational. Thanks for sharing. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 When is your performance Terpischore? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terpsichore Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Saturday 28 June 2013 at 16:30 in the Stanley and Audrey Burton Theatre in Leeds and our music is Shostakovich's Waltz for Flute, Clarinet and Piano or "The Return of Maxim" which is lovely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 That is wonderful to read Mimi. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheila Beelam Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Many years ago I worked for the Stroke Association helping rehabilitate stroke victims - such a devastating trauma and so lovely to hear a positive recovery, thank you for posting Mimi x 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terpsichore Posted May 22, 2014 Share Posted May 22, 2014 Last night's class was so moving. One of the people I know from that class had come back to ballet after nearly a year off ballet. She had a stroke which then caused her to be hospitalised for months on end. From the very beginning she was determined to go back to ballet again, no matter what, which initially medical experts were not so sure about. She recovered well enough to be discharged from the hospital about a few month ago, working very hard, re-learning to walk and all other things, and now she is back in the class room, dancing ballet again! Such a precious thing, being in a class and dancing... I found your contribution uplifting and endorse wholeheartedly your last paragraph. I wish your colleague all the best. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Just been talking to my previous ballet teacher via Facebook. Gosh, I miss her and my old classmates. Then spoke to my new one. I have felt I have been going backwards recently and have been very close to giving up, except I couldn't bear to. I am now committed to more ballet classes and instructions from my old teacher not to be so daft plus encouragement from my new one. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thecatsmother Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 It's hard when you get to that point Fiz but if you can keep turning up to classes and not being too hard on yourself I am sure you will settle into enjoying it or if not-try a different class? When you build up a bit of momentum you start to see progress which in turn builds more motivation???? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Thanks, Balleteacher. The trouble is that I am too hard on myself as my previous teacher and my new one both pointed out. I must try to be kinder to myself as well as trying hard! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjuli_Bai Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Treat yourself as kindly as you would treat others - and I know you would treat others kindly. The "Golden Rule" works both ways. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thecatsmother Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Someone once said to me "if you are going to beat yourself up, make sure you only do it using a feather". Guess it would just tickle then... 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Love that saying Balleteacher! I hope you're feeling more positive Fiz. Looking like I will only be able to get to the one beginners class this week, though looking into a couple of other options for later in the week. Booked into a couple of daytime pilates sessions at least, and a Latin dance 'taster session' at lunchtime tomorrow which I'm really looking forward to. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 I feel more frustrated than anything else, Red! I was feeling much more positive thanks to the lovely people here and my ballet teachers but...I can't manage class tonight as my drama daughter is in a show. OK, except I have a persistent low grade virus which has raised its ugly head again and makes both the show and tomorrow night's class look very unlikely. Next week I can do the Monday class but we are having a mini holiday in York starting next Tuesday! I am looking forward to that as it is years since we have been there but I also want to get my new class timetable started. Ah well, you can't have everything! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Treat yourself to something nice in Betty's in York then Fiz!! If going to the Cathedral try and get there as early as possible before too many other visitors arrive to get a bit more atmosphere and there is a reasonable costing car park down by the river!! So you can walk by the river into the old town. Hope you have a good time anyway! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Thanks, Lin. We have been before but it was a long time ago now! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Treat yourself to something nice in Betty's in York then Fiz!! If going to the Cathedral try and get there as early as possible before too many other visitors arrive to get a bit more atmosphere and there is a reasonable costing car park down by the river!! So you can walk by the river into the old town. Hope you have a good time anyway! I agree that Betty's is an absolute must! I did a ghost walk one evening that was one of the comedy ones. It started in the Shambles and was truly hilarious. There are some truly fascinating churches in York as well as the Minster. I enjoy walking round the city walls and on the riverbank too. York is such a wonderful city that you will run out of time! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 Oh yes, Betty's is a great idea! Understand your frustration Fiz, as my weeks are a bit of a balancing act at the moment trying to fit everything in! Hopefully you'll be back in the swing of it soon. Made the Tuesday beginners class this week - great to see Terpsichore again plus one of her colleagues from Huddersfield. Another different teacher and yet another approach to things. It was generally at a slower pace which I found a good opportunity to concentrate on posture and doing everything more precisely. We did some excellent work on getting our arm positions right which I could still feel the next day! Exciting news that we might be putting together a routine for the 'Chance to Dance' festival in Sheffield in July too. I've just come back from a lunchtime class at the gym and as we were finishing off with our stretches followed by "give yourself a clap" I was thinking how nice that little round of applause at the end of a dance/ gym class is. Just that little moment of bonding when you thank the instructor and congratulate yourself and each other for a job well done. Life seems better with small celebrations like that... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david2189 Posted June 15, 2014 Share Posted June 15, 2014 How would you say the level is at The Royal Ballet School adult class? I was considering attending a class but not sure if I'm too much of a beginner (I have only 4/5 weeks worth of experience recently) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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