I am not on Pinterest!
Alina Cojocaru in Coppelia
Photo (c) Sergey Stepovoy
I’m going through my old photos on Facebook and was looking through the ones from my last day of pointe class at UW-Milwaukee. It was so much fun, especially since I brought my camera to get a group photo and my teacher (and, at times, a student who was sitting out) used it to take pictures of us dancing.
So here’s my pointe class, minus a couple people. I’m in the blue top and cut-off tights (it’s a long, gruesome story).
bapgeek replied to your post: bapgeek replied your post Back On…
i danced from ages 2-32 and i never heard the term. its completely made up. grrrr.
I wouldn’t say that. I have been called a bunhead jokingly by my old ballet teacher. It’s just not nearly as common as the books and TV shows would like you to think.
Not so random, and I realized that this should actually be in my FAQ, so I’m going to add it now!
But I use Grishko 2007s. I wear a size 6.5, 5X because I have massive feet, with a medium shank.
CommentsI get people asking me all the time about how they should go about taking dance classes when they/their parents can’t afford to pay for classes. And luckily, there are ways, and I’ve done most of them, having taken classes as a poor college student. So here’s information on finding classes when you don’t have much/any disposable income. (This is not going to include ways to raise money for classes, such as baby-sitting, selling things, etc. This is studio-focused.)
Scholarships
Many dance studios will offer scholarships, though these are normally reserved for children and young teens. These may be need-based (where poorer students get scholarships) or merit-based (where talented students get scholarships) and may require only paperwork or an audition as well. Contact local studios for information on scholarships.
More ideas after the cut!
(Source: backonpointe)
I got lucky. Really, that’s the main reason I got to start pointe so early, so much earlier than I would recommend for people. But I have strong and flexible ankles, a decent arch, a good instep, the passion for it, and a ballet/pointe teacher who believed in me. She pushed me, hard, but it meant I progressed quite quickly.
CommentsMe, being early like always, at my first ballet class in a looooong time. (14 years o.o)
I signed up for adult beginning ballet classes at a local university which started tonight. The class was small, only 3 people, but I got to be “that” girl with awesome turn out. That won’t last for long. Across the hall the “advanced beginners” class had former professional dancers spinning across the floor. We did some basic exercises (plié, releve, tondu, dégagé) and quickly moved on when the teacher saw we all had some prior experience. We closed with center work, doing combos of the steps we did at the barre. I found that I really need to work on my balance/core strength, and learn to release the death grip on the barre. Next class is in 2 weeks, I can’t wait!
That studio is gorgeous!
And don’t worry; balance will certainly come in time. (Though if you want to hurry it, walk around your house on your tip toes and practice standing on one foot, Syrio Forel style.)
I’m finishing watching the Prix de Lausanne 2013 finals when I realize I recognize a guy standing in the wings, waiting for his cue to go onstage. I check the screen for his name, pop it into Google, and as I’m pondering, I realize that it’s VaganovaBoy here on Tumblr! Zach, I’ll have to go back and find your classical variation, but your contemporary piece was wonderful!
You’re welcome!
And I probably won’t, but I’m hoping to make a video in the future with all the basics for preparing for ballet/pointe: turnout exercises, ankle stretches, arch work, etc. But there aren’t enough foot-strengthening stuff to make a workout for it.
CommentsI’m watching the finale of the 2013 Prix de Lausanne. The dancers are all so talented, but I’m 9 people into the classical section and have only seen 4 different variations. I’m a little disappointed in their choices. Like, I know they have a list to choose from, but it’s a list of nearly forty variations between the four groups of dancers. I want to see some Bluebird!
Also, Miko Fogerty is still amazing.
