Sheila Beelam Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Likewise, I was told at about 12 there was no point me taking ballet seriously as I was too tall... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Me too, I was always in the back row and at the back of the bar as I was tall! I was also very slim (skinny and gorilla arms) with flat turnout and good feet but all that was unimportant as I was, and still am 5'8"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Me too, I was always in the back row and at the back of the bar as I was tall! I was also very slim (skinny and gorilla arms) with flat turnout and good feet but all that was unimportant as I was, and still am 5'8"! Oh, I had flat feet and no turnout!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Oh taxi you must have had a few inches at least!! And flat feet with ballet training can become quite strong!! Â The thing that annoyed me at normal school was that being tall when we had country dancing I was ALWAYS a bloke!! Â Once when the ballet school I was at was doing one of their shows there was a lovely little ballet the teacher made up but she singled out three of us (I didn't realise initially we were chosen because we were the tallest three) to do a slightly different dance. I think at first my mum(who never got too involved with dance affairs) thought blimey I must be doing well tobe chosen for a threesome! However imagine my dismay when it came to costume time. The three of us were spiders......so wearing black tights and black leotards whereas ALL the others were cobwebs.....and wearing grey flimsy floaty net costumes. I was SO upset. I just wanted tobe a cobweb not a horrible spider!!! I was nine at the time but I have NEVER FORGOTTEN this event and when I realised we had sort of been chosen to be spiders because we were tall then I HATED being tall with a passion that has never quite left me to this day!! Though I am getting better now!! Â It is true though that many ballet companies in the 50's 60's and into the 70's had a cut off point of about 5ft 5/6 ins for women. The tallest dancer I remember from perhaps late 70's early 80's was Maina Gielgud who danced with the Bejart Company and I do remember being impressed with her. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheila Beelam Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Oh Lin, it's funny how things stay with us! I remember my first week at junior school, aged 7 being told to go wait until the end for lunch by the brisk dinner lady. I burst into tears as I didn't know why and it turned out she thought I was a 4th year (11yrs old) and they had to wait until the lower years had eaten! I hated being the tallest, but have grow to love my height - though at 5'9" I was never going to be the petite framed flat chested ballerina I wanted to be! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Oh, LinMM and Sheila...  Perhaps Channel 4 should have made "tall ballet" - may be with Zenaida Yanowsky being the coach!  And Wayne Sleep should relly have made "short ballet" with people like me... Though I would never say yes to Swan Lake! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheila Beelam Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 That may be a better idea! I told DD about the programme tonight and we had a giggle as she did a workshop with Wayne when she was about 9 and 4ft nothing and it's strange to think she's now 5'9" and would tower over him! It was a wonderful day and he really is a fabulous person and dancer - let's hope it doesn't disappoint... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Have run out of likes for today for you Mimi and Sheila!! Â Yes he is or at least was a really nice person so I am hoping for his sake that Channel 4 doesn't do the dirty on him as we know the editing of programmes can be a tad naughty and even downright malicious at times! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I would imagine Wayne is canny enough to have negotiated some sort of editorial control! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancer Sugar Plum Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 Yes he is or at least was a really nice person so I am hoping for his sake that Channel 4 doesn't do the dirty on him as we know the editing of programmes can be a tad naughty and even downright malicious at times!  I would imagine Wayne is canny enough to have negotiated some sort of editorial control!  I hope you are both right.  I also hope they don't make it sound like, 'you could have been a ballerina if you were X pounds lighter than you are now/back then'. I hope it's explained that the Balanchine-ballerina proportions and figure is something people are born with, which happens to include being very slender, and not something you could get by reaching a specific weight. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted January 31, 2014 Share Posted January 31, 2014 I also hope that they will also explain that although eveyone can enjoy ballet, it takes years for dancers to develope and there is no other way to achieve it in the lesser time frame.  And that they had to do it in 6 months but that's only because it's tv - no different from the fact Natlie Portman didn't really dance in the film Black Swan.  ,,,but I know that is not going to happen. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 A feature from today's Guardian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Its her Life Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 Wayne Sleep and his ladies are on The One Show, BBC1 in a minute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletla Posted February 5, 2014 Share Posted February 5, 2014 So annoyed with this. As if the only thing stopping people from becoming ballet dancers is their size? They wouldn't do a programme about fat athletes would they.....people who had always wanted to run a marathon but weren't selected for training because they were too big. Â Wayne Sleep says he wants to walk back into ROH with his head held high? Somehow I don't think so. I don't think anyone has done more to perpetuate the myth that female ballet dancers are half-starved anorexics. Somebody I work with asked me today "do they all starve themselves at your daughter's ballet school? Are they allowed to eat much?". Well done Wayne! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I agree, it perpetuates the myth - dd has been asked much the same by her GCSE dance teacher who should know better! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thecatsmother Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I agree taxi4ballet. Stereotypes will be reinforced but also I fear it will have a negative impact on the eating disorder population inside and outside dance. You only need to look at some of the horrendous thinspo dancer videos on you tube to see how the art of dance can be abused and I fear this although coming from another angle has really not been thought through in terms of the implications. I very much hope I am wrong... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 (edited) I am also a bit bothered about the implication that seems to come across from the interview last night on BBC1 that it is "normal" for ballet schools to bully and push people out of the school/class just because someone is on the chubby side.  This is another stereo typing for ballet world very much in the way "Black Swan" has wrongly portrayed - which I find it rather insulting to dacners and dance professionals.  It never cease to surprise me that some people just have no respect for what dancers do - long period of hard training over a decade, for a starter. They must think it is all so easy - so long as one "looks right". Edited February 6, 2014 by mimi66 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moomin Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I think it's the same for an awful lot of professions, people don't have a clue how long and in depth the training is. Still they say no publicity is bad publicity, if the programme inspires a few more adults to take up ballet at least there should be a few more classes around for us :-D 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjuli_Bai Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 As well as being surprised at how long and arduous the training is, many people are surprised that dancers need to be paid.   After one performance a lady was waiting for me at the stage door with a very lovely bouquet of flowers.  She told me how much she enjoyed the evening and then said that her daughter wanted to take lessons.  She then asked me how many lessons ( lessons - not years)  one needed to dance professionally  - 4, 5, 6,?  I was very tired, but wanted to be polite.....so I advised she call a local school and discuss it.  However, inside my head I was saying 4, 5, 6 lessons?  No - it took me ten years - but then, I am obviously retarded.   No I didn't say that - but I thought it. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 (edited) Wow, that lady deserves some kind of Guiness record, Anjuli.  Mind you, I have been asked a few times if I am teaching or performing (for a fee) ballet  - just because I have been dancing over one year and because they think I go to class (gasp!) "every single week" once a week!  Social dancing (not ballroom) scenes are worse... after 6 months they thought I was a professional dancer (I wish!) and wanted to me to teach them. I sometimes wonder in what world those people live. Unfortunately I see so many people "teaching" who really shouldn't be - help, may be, but teach...  I must add, though, that there are a lot of very professional teachers in those dance, propperly trained since childhood and have gone to vocational school (not ballet). They are wonderful and responsible professionals. Edited February 6, 2014 by mimi66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terpsichore Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I received the following email from the Development Co-ordinator of Northern Ballet this morning:  "I wanted to let you know about a new three part series called ‘Big Ballet’ which starts today, 06 Feb, at 9pm on Channel 4. Episodes 2 and 3 will be broadcast on the following two Thursdays at the same time. Ballet legend Wayne Sleep and prima ballerina Monica Loughman work with a troupe of plus-size amateur dancers to realise their dream of dancing Swan Lake.  Whilst the programme is not about Northern Ballet, much of the filming takes place in our Quarry Hill studios and the Northern Ballet Sinfonia accompany the live performances at the conclusion of the series."  I don't know whether they were there for the Big Ballet series but the car park next to Northern Ballet where I usually park was full of caravans and trailers for filming on location when I turned up for my ballet class this morning.  Much as I admire Wayne Sleep and remember his Neapolitan divertissement with affection I won't be watching this series. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I shall watch it - with considerable interest  1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mart Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 We must watch then we will be able to comment . 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terpsichore Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I shall watch it - with considerable interest   We must watch then we will be able to comment .  I hope you both enjoy it. The reason I am not watching it is that it clashes with "Inside Science" and "In Our Time" on Radio 4. I am just as interested in science and history as I an in ballet  I agree that one cannot comment on a programme that one has not seen but I have already contributed all that I can usefully add to the topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi66 Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Looking forward to the forum members' view!  I can't watch either since I shall be in my class tonight, but will try to watch on catch-up. Really reallty hoping this is not going to trun into a sort of Victorian freek show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 You can catch radio progs on iplayer I love Medicine Now and if I miss it catch up on iplayer. Â I will be at Spanish tonight so have to record it and will also have to refrain from looking at the forum on this topic until I have watched it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I'm reserving judgement until I've seen it. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 This was a topic of discussion at work today, and my colleagues came up with some suggestions for follow-up programmes: Â "Big Bungee", "Big Pot-holing", "Big Trampolining" and "Big Grand National" to name a few... Â Me? I'm looking forward to "Petite Pole Vault" and "Skinny Sumo" 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O`Brien Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I know it`s on Channel 4 tonight,but what time? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O`Brien Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I`ve just checked.It`s 9pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Or how about Giant Jockeys! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legseleven Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Sizeable Sprinters? Giant Gymnasts? - I know this is non-PC, but no more so than Big Ballet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I only managed to watch the 1st half, but I enjoyed it.x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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