Adult ballet thread anyone?

[Imperatrice]

I thought this might be a useful discussion thread for anyone who is currently doing or is considering trying adult ballet classes.

I only started ballet again, in the last few months, after not dancing since I was a little girl (I reached Inter foundation). I find it complements my yoga and pilates well but not so much my running! I've been doing two or three drop in classes (not all every week!) and some online now and then.

@EasterIsland Your studio must be massive to have the clientele for 4-5 classes per week! I'm in a small town that isn't particularly close to a decent-sized city, so one per week is even pushing it.

For pirouettes, I would practice a standard chassé pas-de-bourré into 4th as a preparation, then alternate between turning the pirouette (single/double/triple as desired) and holding the retiré on relevé with no turn. It will work the stomach muscles better without developing a bad "wind up" habit with the turn.

I would practice a standard chassé pas-de-bourré into 4th as a preparation, then alternate between turning the pirouette (single/double/triple as desired) and holding the retiré on relevé with no turn.

Yup, we often do that - first time just the retiré, second time, a single, third time a double. The retiré is the hardest of the 3!

Ooh lovely, ballet chat! I've danced all my life, did grades when I was younger and have danced whenever and wherever I can since. Sadly, never good enough to think about taking it any further than a hobby.
I'm currently doing a class for experienced adults, which is the best class I've been to for a long time. There's a huge emphasis on technique, and also progression and it's just 1.5 hours of joy. I also do another fortnightly class for adults which is a decent standard.
I do an online Pilates class as well, which really helps with my strength and flexibility.
Unfortunately, I have joint stiffness in my left big toe, so I'm having to adjust for that.
Any exercises or tips to help that would be gratefully received.

I find that the good old pirouette en dehors from 4th is my go to training pirouette, particularly across the floor - you know, the standard chassé, pas de bourrée into 4th & then turn! You can really get some momentum going.

Yes, I remember that combination well! Thanks. I'll give that a try. Less time to overthink. I tend to hesitate now I think.

I agree about barre classes. I tried one called Ballet Barre Workout. It only resembled ballet in that we sometimes stood in first or second position, but it was just an odd version of pilates at the barre then on mats in centre. I didn't go back.

Welcome @Helbelle75

Well, there's rage & defensiveness on the "Barre" thread in response to my frank criticism! (oops my bad for being honest) So clearly some people hold to the quality of these classes. But it's a travesty that they're connected with the study of ballet, frankly. I wonder if their attraction is the glamour associated with "ballerinas." If only they knew ...

Sadly, never good enough to think about taking it any further than a hobby.

But you know what? It's OK to take our study of ballet seriously @Helbelle75 . People are serious about tennis, or golf, or horse-riding, or singing in a choir, and doing these as an "amateur." I think it's such a pity that adult ballet students need sometimes to be a bit defensive about taking ballet seriously.

Also, sympathies re the rigid toe. My right big toe is a bit like that. I do LOTS of warm up tendus, and also do the Mexican wave with my toes - a PBT exercise that really helps (try to get to a PBT class - they can be very useful). I find I have to really focus on not throwing my weight to the outside edge of my foot on demi-pointe, to avoid the slight pain & impingemet I have in my foot. I consciously think about putting weight into my big toe. And I find after 20 minutes of the barre, that it's not so painful. But I stopped pointe work in my mid-30s, because that is too painful!

I'm jealous of your 90 minute class - my local studio (which is lovely and the teacher is excellent) only runs 60 minute classes. At my age, I'm really only just warmed up & loose by 45 minutes and we NEVER have enough time for proper allegro. I am losing skills, unless I get to the more professional level classes I do in London (Pineapple & Danceworks). But I'm also ageing.

You're absolutely right @EasterIsland - I have always said that I know I'm too old and not the right shape to do ballet - almost as an apology. And that was in my 30s, I'm late 40s now. I also dance apologetically, which I noticed last week, so I'm going to just enjoy myself to night and do the very best that I can.
Thank you for the toe tips. I'll give that a try. I can feel my ankle hurting slightly, which means I'm going over on it. I'll keep working on it, but also ageing!
Lovely to chat to fellow ballet lovers. It's a complete passion of mine, and I'm very lucky to have found such an amazing class. Very interested in the online classes as well - will look into those.

Tried the retire on releve last night. Ankle gave way, shot sideways and nearly ended up through the window of the village hall into the car park! Much amusement all round from the rest of our adult ballet class. Thankfully all well and I was singled out for my 'lovely balletic waltz turn " (according to my teacher) later in class <polishes halo>

I once fell over in class quite spectacularly on the simplest turn - we'd done a whole pirouette sequence across the floor, and after landing a pirouette en dehors from 4th, we had to do a terre a terre turn to the other front corner hit the preparation for an en dedans turn from 4th (the teacher was a former soloist from the a big professional company & used to give us the same class she gave the company!) I managed all the turns across the floor, and then fell over inexplicably on the terre a terre turn - the easiest bit where literally your feet don't leave the floor!

Quite excited to find this thread, as I'm planning to return to ballet after not doing it for 25 years. I'm a bit worried I'm going to be awful.

Did any of you have a break that long? I'm 49.

@17CherryTreeLane I did two years of ballet when I was at junior school so ages 9-10. Even then it was very informal.

I started back at an adult ballet class in our village in 2018 I think. I was 56. It's fab, I love it.

Ah, that's brilliant @NeedWineNow!! So reassuring to hear.

@17CherryTreeLane No problem, hope you enjoy your class as and when.

You'll be surprised how much muscle memory comes back! A wonderful teacher in London (Pineapple & Danceworks) who is fantastic at teaching beginners & "beginneragains" always says at the end of each class that it'll feel weird for about 3 or 4 weeks. She's right!

I do hope so! Am quite nervous... I did train most summers with Royal Ballet when I was younger, but have not mentioned this because I'll likely be terrible, feel very creaky.

I did up to grade 8 as a child, gave up when I went to Uni. I do adult ballet, for about 5 years now. We're onto our 3rd teacher in that time and I'm loosing the love. Before Christmas we were looking to set a date for doing the Discovering Rep Level 3 first exam. Now we have several new people, the teacher has changed her focus and it seems to have been quietly forgotten about! I am now considering finding another class as the progress is sooo slow and there is no individual feedback (positive or negative!). How did you find classes? I need a proper, preferably RAD, class. None of this gym-class wannabe bollocks.

Love ballet. One issue for adults though is that it's often just one level, with beginners and advanced thrown in together.

At their summer schools or professionally?

I did ballet grades and some vocational exams when younger.

After such a large gap I found it frustrating that while muscle memory returned, I also felt I had to almost relearn in some ways - not with barre but some aspects of centre work. Frustration from the point of view of knowing the correct technique, knowing how it should look but my body not quite obeying. Cross training in other hobbies meant I haven't lost all my old flexibility and turnout strength (though one side, always my weaker side, has been improving with work).

I think there is a sadness, that I won't be as good as I was, but I love ballet and don't plan to give it up again.

My gripe with adult ballet classes is people being put on pointe too quickly when they've never done it before and their technique on flat is not good.

If you can't find another class offering exams you could ask for a private lesson. I know some who've done exams that way. @toomuchfaster

Though I'm sure people will have suggestions by area.

@bunty11 I hadn't thought of private lessons, I will enquire as my current location is sooo convenient. Thank you

@bunty11 just at the summer schools. I did audition to go full time but was declined and told to come back a year later, which I didn't do.

I totally get the feeling of sadness at not being as good as before, and I think this might be my biggest obstacle. Still...worth a go.

@17CherryTreeLane Yes definitely still worth a go whatever level people are at. I suppose it might be compared with any similar physical sport really, though of course the arts side is important.

Well you must have been good, and a nice experience I should think! The summer and Easter schools are selective. My daughter applied to the school and didn't get through to the next stage, but she'd been applying for an Mid associate place really.

What a fabulous thread!

I took up adult ballet almost a year ago, I did it until ages 11 as a kid.

There's just me and one Bloke (Russian, I'm convinced he's ex bolshoi as he's amazing!) and I love it.

I have been struggling with it recently as I am pretty shit TBH and my lovely teacher wants us to learn routines etc. I wanted to do it as a fun way to complement my other exercise. I run, play tennis, do Pilates.

Anyone else struggle with being a bit rubbish?!?