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.

I haven't danced for a decade and my body has changed shape so much in not even sure if be able to balance an anymore. My centre of gravity has rather shifted!

You'll probably be fine! I've been back dancing for over a year and my old balance, flexibility and turnout is gradually returning! Though it feels like relearning for a lot of steps and with older body, but your previous knowledge of how to do it helps. At least I've found.

I think some people (from talk at the classes I go to) find the pace difficult or heavy-going and will drop out for that reason most frequently. Menopause overheating is common complaint as some studios are very warm.

I'd love a weekend adult class, now and then, as I'm usually dead in the evenings after a full day at work.

If you are within reach of London, you're spoiled for choice. Fab classes at Central School of Ballet on the South Bank on Sunday. And at Pineapple & Danceworks throughout the weekend.

But weekend classes for adults are thin on the ground elsewhere.

And I too, would love a proper professional Open class. I get them when I go to my London teachers, but not my local studio. It's such a pity.

I'm still loving class, but I do find there's such a wide range of ability in it, that sometimes I crave more technically challenging work. Mainly an issue at barre.

When we do centre work, it changes a lot and keeps my brain working.

I'm still loving class, but I do find there's such a wide range of ability in it, that sometimes I crave more technically challenging work. Mainly an issue at barre

I do Intermediate level. There's definitely a lot of people of varying ability in the classes but they seem to muddle along.

I have a real issue finding a satisfactory, especially classical barre. I tried a different one at weekend which even missed out the latter parts you'd expect - grand battement and so on.

Thanks @WindyHedges but I'm not close enough to manage London regularly.

Yes definitely thin on the ground. I found another class to try at weekend but the barre wasn't very classical. I mean it felt like Pilates in part.

I would say that I'm a verbal learner and I need the names of the steps. I mean especially when a teacher is giving a combination in the centre. It happens so often that they're just described or marked.

I don't know if anyone else finds the same?

Would you mind linking to the zoom classes please?
I did a wonderful class a few years ago. The teacher was great and she had an assistant correcting people and making adjustments. Unfortunately we moved and I haven’t found one again. I just don’t think I’d find one as good. My worry about doing online classes is bad technique .

Teachers on Zoom that I'd recommend would be
Hannah Frost at Pineapple
Christie iIttelmaier either at Danceworks or Pineapple.

Hannah's Beginner classes are really top notch - you'll be sae & you'll learn really clean pure English-style technique; Christine's Beginner class is good when you know a bit more, as they're a bit more dancey & she likes you to use epaulement and your head etc, as well as the good basic technique (her style is more Russian).

Mittelmaier, sorry

@WindyHedges

I know it wasn't for me, but I like the description of Christine's classes (dancey, use of head and épaulement) and wondered if she taught anything intermediate + level that you know of.

Ms Mittelmaier gives an absolutely gorgeous class at Danceworks on Sunday mornings. You can join via Zoom.

Intermediate to Advanced I mean.

Great! Thanks so much @WindyHedges I'll give that a try.