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Original poster

My dd will never be a ballerina!

52 replies

SSSandy · 30/09/2006 19:05

On Friday dd's ballet class had an open session, so parents could sit in and watch. She's just been moved up to a group with girls mostly a year or two older because so many little kids had joined the old class and she'd become too big for it really. I was amazed at what some of them could do and I have to say I didn't know where to look sometimes watching dd who seems to have no idea at all of how to move her body.

To me it's strange because I only have to watch people dance for a short time to be able to copy what they're doing and I really couldn't understand how if the teacher showed a leg pointed directly in front, dd would translate this into a leg bent wonkily to the side etc.

I'm wondering though if there's some reason why she has so much difficulty with it. It didn't seem normal to me. She told me she did the best she could and I said that's fine , it's just for fun and if she doesn't enjoy it she can stop anytime. Still I am a bit confused (and TBH disappointed) that she seems so uncoordinated still.

OP posts:
southeastastra · 30/09/2006 20:28

i hated it when i couldn't understand the french! it's a good skill though and whatever the ability fun!

ilovecaboose · 30/09/2006 20:29

Also did some martial arts
Tai Chi - got bored as too slow.
Kickboxing - kicked someone through set of doors (I am surprisingly strong) and punched someone else in face and made them bleed everywhere (both by accident) on first session. They didn't really want me back after that .

I have had so many hilarious accidents at sport (especially at school) I think PE teachers were praying they wouldn't get me for lessons.

For a very sensitive person this never bothered me for some reason. Also I think I learned and gained a lot by doing all the activities.

Original poster
SSSandy · 30/09/2006 20:30

Chandra !!!!!!!!!! LOL at being the weeds in the background

That reminds me how in nativity places I was always a sheep

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dinny · 30/09/2006 20:32

SSSandy - maybe try yoga class (trythislink )

dinny · 30/09/2006 20:33

Tae Kwondo is brilliant for kids - going to try and find a class for dd when she is 5.

Original poster
SSSandy · 30/09/2006 20:35

caboose LOL at your martial arts experiences Don't fancy dd kicking me through the door next time I say it's time for bed...

Yes dinny yoga is good. I'm an old yogi myself in fact. The place I had in mind for dd only takes dc from the age of 8 though. Might look around a bit more.

What I'm wondering though is if she has problems following instructions on moving her body in ballet, will she manage any better in kung fu or yoga?

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Chandra · 30/09/2006 20:36

ITs true Sssandy, I grew up to be sick of green dresses!

Original poster
SSSandy · 30/09/2006 20:37

Don't know much about Tae Kwando but I know a club near dd's school offers it but too late for us. When we walked home from ballet on Friday we passed a new Buddhist Shaolin temple and went inside to nose about. Lovely Chinese monk showed us around. Anyway they offer kung fu for dc so I am planning on taking her there next week for a trial - see how it goes.

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Original poster
SSSandy · 30/09/2006 20:39

charliecat, my dd can't do any of that either -headstand, back flip etc. Tried to show her the cartwheel yesterday because they're supposed to be learning it in ballet class but she absolutely refused to try it.

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Original poster
SSSandy · 30/09/2006 20:41

southeastastra how long did you do ballet then?

Dinny I couldn't access that link about yoga unfortunately, wouldn't load. Why Tae Kwando? I don't know much about it. Dd saw a judo demonstration and told me emphatically she would never do that.

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southeastastra · 30/09/2006 20:44

from about 4 to 12ish. i didn't like it at the time much, but can appreciate it as an adult

charliecat · 30/09/2006 20:45

sssandy, id see if theres something else she can do and can excel at. My eldest is now the one who shows the rest of the children the strokes in swimming as shes really good at it. Its filled her with confidence, she took 2 years to learn and is now really really good.

Original poster
SSSandy · 30/09/2006 20:46

what didn't you like about ballet?

I never did it beyond the age of 6 so I think all we did was pretending to be ice melting or seeds growing into plants - not ballet as such

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charliecat · 30/09/2006 20:46

she enjoyed the time in the water learning to swim.

dinny · 30/09/2006 20:50

SSSandy - tae kwondo, all about self-expression, I suppose that's why good for kids...encourages self-confidence, power and pride in their physicality,,,, same with yoga, really.

as an aside, am about to apply to train as a children's yoga teacher... really hoping it comes off as feel passionate about it

Original poster
SSSandy · 30/09/2006 20:51

oh fantastic dinny. I was thinking (in fact on and off for maybe 4 years now) that I would like to train for that too. What kind of yoga do you do? I follow Iyengar and the training here takes several years so I have not followed it up.

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southeastastra · 30/09/2006 20:53

when they're that little they do learn about how to be a butterfly or whatever, but it does get better. i didn't really not like it, i just did it!

Original poster
SSSandy · 30/09/2006 21:11

I see southeast, well really after having observed that class, I do think she will never get the grasp of it, I'm sure with time she'd improve but she obviously doesn't have a natural talent for ballet, putting it mildly. Perhaps I should really be looking around for something else. She's good at art, singing but dc need some kind of sport too. She goes to swimming which is ok but she doesn't enjoy it that much.

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dinny · 30/09/2006 21:11

SSSandy, used to practice sivananda before moved out of London (for about 6 years) and now have been doing ashtanga class for a year...

really want to do British Wheel Of Yoga instructor course but worried my experience is too disrupted by by pregnancies (did practice but not with a British Wheel instructor)...will see and hope for best!

maybe your dd would excel at yoga - can't wait for dd to try it, it's just such an affirmining positive acitivity, espeically as there's no 'right' place to be, except where you're supposed to be

Original poster
SSSandy · 30/09/2006 21:13

good luck with it dinny!

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dinny · 30/09/2006 21:16

and you - go for it...

CurrantBun · 02/10/2006 15:04

If she's happy and enjoys it, then don't worry about whether or not she's any good at it. I was sent to ballet as a youngster but only stuck it a short while - I don't suffer with dyspraxia but am just naturally arrhythmic and have poor hand-eye coordination. I can't even follow an aerobics class, let alone a ballet class!

I just found other things to do instead. I was very good at drama so did that instead of ballet. Although I was never very good at sports requiring good hand-eye coordination I was pretty agile and good at gymnastics and trampoling. I always joined in enthusiastically with sports I wasn't much good at - it's not all about 'being the best'.

Iklboo · 02/10/2006 15:13

She's poo at ballet? Good - she won't end up with knackered feet, knackered joints, knackered spine and an eating disorder (sweeping generalisation emoticon]

Original poster
SSSandy · 02/10/2006 15:20

speaking of eating disorders reading the words currant bun deterred me from my diet and had me reaching for the baking tray.

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admylin · 02/10/2006 15:24

SSSandy, someone told me the theatre at friedrichstadtpalast are doing auditions for the childrens group some time soon - maybe she would like that, you can be a dancer, or audition for a speaking part. I thought Imight take mine but then they have never had any dance training of any sort so probably wouldn't have a chance.