Does anyone do adult ballet?

[estherdb]

I posted on an old thread but I think it's dead.

Name changed for anonymity.

I tried a new class recently. Beginner/improver level class I decided to try first as the intermediate levels vary wildly in my experience. I felt out of place as I was the only person wearing ballet shoes, and they were all wearing socks, including the teacher. Surely that's not a good idea especially in jumps?

Also doing bent leg 'en cloche grand battements as straight leg considered too difficult, but then attempting chaînes and promenade arabesques which in my opinion are much higher difficulty level then en cloche battement.

AIBU?

Doing ballet class in socks is the main AIBU really! And I doubt I'll return to the class, but is that unreasonable of me.

I go to adult ballet classes and we all wear ballet shoes except teacher who wears jazz shoes (as more hard wearing).

At the moment, there are just two of us in the class. One beginner and me (ex associate of Royal Ballet school). Teacher seems
to manage our different levels of experience really well; exercises are interesting and varied. I really don’t mind though if the exercise is basic; I love a good plié and a rond de jambe!

There's no excuse for teaching incorrect technique. Is this teacher qualified? What syllabus is she following? My local teacher does Silver Swans classes (RAD). Always corrects technique,

I did adult ballet (and a show) a few years ago. Fairly big class (maybe 20ish) and huge age range from 18-80 (not kidding!) and we all wore ballet shoes 😊

Doesn't sound a like a very good class.

Socks are also an added risk for turns as they are slippy.

Whereabouts in the country are you? I can recommend some great classes in Manchester if that would be of any use to you.

Yes, and impact and slippage. Sautés and other centre work just no!

bent leg en cloche could be to reduce strain on back of knee / hamstring, arabesque promenades easy to attempt (not so easy to execute well), chains turns- I teach basic chaine movement (step turn) from age 6 in my classes- again east to attempt and difficult to do with good technique.

In an adult ballet class most people are there to express themselves through dance and for basic fitness, of course good technique should be explained and taught in the lesson, if the teacher waits for good technique with adult learners unless they all have lots of previous dance experience the class will never really move past the basics learned at G1-3 levels in children’s grades. Dancing in socks I don’t agree with but some teachers prefer it, were they ordinary socks or the bloch dance socks / apolla shocks which are a proper dance sock for class and performance?
Been teaching 25 years, RAD, ISTD, IDTA qualified teacher, before you ask.

It's non syllabus. They might not have formal teaching qualifications, as I only recall a biography. That's my own fault then.

I would feel confident of the teaching quality and ability of Silver Swans, and will join one day, but I'm not in that age range yet. I think it's late 40s/50s minimum ?

few spelling errors of ballet terms in my post, phone keeps autocorrecting them

Ordinary socks @dancinfeet. Some patterned, some not

Though socks are helpful for cheating pirouettes, which were not attempted in that class.

I'm also probably being literal in that battements en cloche are an early grade exercise (2 or 3 depending on which syllabus as you'll know). Things like promenade arabesque and chaînes are much further away and up the grades.

There were grand pliés in fourth at the barre and I've just remembered grand pliés in fifth in the centre. I can do those (I remember that grand plié in fifth in centre was one of the tests to see if we were ready for pointe as a girl - which I've also started again this year)

Sadly not near Manchester. Thanks though.

I probably shouldn't say where I am because I've made them identifiable by saying they're non syllabus. Most are adult ballet classes are connected to ballet schools here.

I really don’t mind though if the exercise is basic; I love a good plié and a rond de jambe!

Yes, agree there are lots of benefits from doing a basic class.

Yes over 50s but my teacher allows any adults. Honestly, there are many excellent dance schools with qualified teachers and thry usually offer an adult class
Have a look around and keep up the dance!

I’ve seen this again and again only in adult classes. It’s a red flag for me about standards. Mostly it’s because it’s their first class and they don’t have the shoes yet and they’re trying it out. I think that’s ok.

I think if they’re doing it longer than that it might be because they don’t take it seriously, or because it’s easier because you can balance easier and articulate the feet more easily, but it won’t help or prepare for more advanced ballet or better technique. Better to work on foot strength and flexibility.

Just my opinion.

To add. Just saw this again in a recent new class I was trying and won’t be returning to, though it wasn’t the only problem or the main reason for not returning.