January 23, 2015

Beginner Ballerina Profile: Lydia Hanna

20141123_121335Meet Lydia, who just recently started taking classes! She started taking them on YouTube (which she recommends for people who can’t afford classes right away). She blogs at Lydiateachesherself.WordPress. com.

When did you start doing ballet as an adult?

Just before Christmas.  I attended a class on a date and my legs started craving the movements,  so I started dancing in my kitchen to youtube classes.

Did you ever take lessons as a kid?

Yes, but I got frustrated and quit.

Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?

Because it feels amazing, and because it’s great for stress.

Where do you take classes?

Youtube!  I highly recommend it, for those who can’t afford classes right away.
I’m about to start regular classes at Broadway Dance in Manhattan. I’ve also been to drop-ins at Mark Morris in Brooklyn a few times too,  and it was lovely.

What is your favorite part about ballet?

The moment where a movement that was impossible last week suddenly becomes natural.

What is your least favorite part?

The moment where a new move is not yet doable.

Who/What is your ballet inspiration?

Ballerinas like me who are older and imperfect.

What motivates you to keep dancing?

It’s fun! And it feels amazing.

What are your hobbies outside of ballet?

Writing, reading, and school. I love taking classes.(I’m studying political science at Pace and I studied Literature at Syracuse)

What advice would you like to give to those who want to start ballet or have just started?

Perfect is overrated.

Do you have a blog?

Lydiateachesherself.WordPress. com

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January 16, 2015

Beginner Danseur Profile: Vince Svitak

100_0904Vince started taking ballet in February 2o13.  He says that while ballet was always a passion of his, he wasn’t able to start as a kid. But now that he’s an adult, he says, “it doesn’t matter to me what people think cause ballet is something I love and wanted to dance!”

When did you start doing ballet as an adult?   

I first started taking adult ballet in February, 2013.  When I first started taking classes, I didn’t feel I was keeping up with the class, so I decided to take private lessons to help build up my technique and stayed with it. Since taking my classes, I have progressed to pointe, so I have come a long way since I first started, but still more to learn and experience as I go to class.

Did you ever take lessons as a kid?  

No, I never went to lessons as a kid.  I was too shy and as a kid, the boys would get ridiculed for taking ballet instead of doing sports, so it pushed me away from taking classes.

Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?   

I started taking ballet as an adult for a few reasons. First, ballet was always a passion of mine and wasn’t able to start as a kid. But now that I’m an adult, it doesn’t matter to me what people think cause ballet is something I love and wanted to dance! Another reason is because I was in a car accident, back in 2012, and wanted to get back into shape and the gym just wasn’t my style cause it is always the same repetition all the time and ballet you learn something new every time you go to class and it gives you a better appreciation for dance all around! But after class, it gives me more confidence and I feel better about myself cause I started a passion I love!

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January 13, 2015

Adult Ballerinas in The Nutcracker

Performing in The Nutcracker isn’t just for kids or professional dancers. I’m excited to report that there were five adult ballet students in Birmingham Ballet’s 2014 Nutcracker! Meet the cast below. Maybe you’ll be inspired to try performing yourself!

ABP- KellyKelly Milam

Role: Clara’s Mother

How long have you been dancing ballet as an adult?

I took ballet classes as a child, but didn’t pick it back up until I was 26 or 27. I was assisting a teacher at the dance school where I now teach and decided to get back into ballet since I have always loved it so. I was excited to be in the recital numbers along with the teenagers. I just never revealed my age. I guess they just wondered. Now that I am 48, and have been dancing ever since that first recital, I still don’t reveal my age. I still want people “wondering.”

What inspired you to start performing in Nutcracker as an adult?

My mother saw a poster advertising auditions for Birmingham Ballet’s Nutcracker back in 1999. Knowing how much I loved to dance, she told me about the audition and encouraged me to attend. I was so excited to be a part of the performance and loved every minute of it. I was a party mom and encouraged a friend of mine to be a party dad. He only did that one performance, but I was hooked from then on!

Did you ever perform in Nutcracker in K-12 or college? If so, what were some of the roles you had?

I never performed in the Nutcracker as a child or teen, but I remember seeing it one time when I was about seven years old. I remember wishing I could be on the stage.

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December 19, 2014

Ballerina Profile: Patricia

IMG_2810
This week’s profile is of Patricia, who started ballet this past November, because she was always interested in ballet and figured picking it back up in college would be a good idea before she had to start looking for a real job and figuring out her career.
When did you start doing ballet as an adult?
I started doing ballet at the age of 20 this past November after some major deliberation.
 
Did you ever take lessons as a kid?
I took ballet classes when I was 3 years old but stopped after a year.
 
Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?
I was always interested in ballet and thought it was just so beautiful. I figured picking it back up in college would be a good idea before I had to start looking for a real job and figuring out my career.
 
Where do you take classes?
I take classes at Joy of Motion in Friendship Heights and am thinking about trying out some other places in DC.
 
What is your favorite part about ballet?
I really like doing rond de jambes. They are hard to do but I like how they work my hips.
 
What is your least favorite part?
My least favorite part is keeping time and counting. That is one thing about dancing that I hate. But I’m working on it.
 
Who/What is your ballet inspiration?
Pretty much I am inspired by anyone that loves what they do. One of my friends, Galene, dances ballet so she inspires me a lot. She’s even dancing in a production of the Nutcracker this winter! I also like watching Ashley Bouder and Chase Finlay from NYCB dance.
 
What motivates you to keep dancing?
I want to constantly keep getting better, constantly improving and nailing down a proper technique.
 
Do you take any other dance classes?
Not at the moment, no.
 
What are your hobbies outside of ballet?
I don’t really have any other hobbies. School is like a full time job but its alright.
 
What advice would you like to give to those who want to start ballet or have just started?
If you aren’t sure about dancing just take another drop in class with another teacher or try out a different place. You can always talk to your classmates or teachers if you aren’t sure or have worries even though it might be intimidating. They have probably been through what your feeling now and would love to help! (Probably) Just don’t give up without giving it a shot.
Do you have a blog?
Not yet. I’ll let you know if I get it up and running.

 

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December 12, 2014

Ballerina Profile: Grier Cooper

WriterDancerBodyThis week’s profile is of Grier Cooper, who writes a blog “The Writer in a Dancer’s Body” (which you can find on www.griercooper.com).  She regularly interview Bay Area dancers, choreographers, and artistic directors and share current news and trends in the dance world.

When did you start doing ballet as an adult?

I came back to ballet a few years after I stopped dancing professionally in my early 20s.

Did you ever take lessons as a kid?

I started taking ballet lessons when I was five years old. I later went on to train full-time at the School of American Ballet and performed with San Francisco Ballet, Miami City Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Although I always loved dancing and performing I eventually realized that the demands and sacrifices I made to be a dancer really weren’t paying off. I decided it was time to switch gears and explore other things.

Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?

I came back to dance after taking a few years off because dance had been one of the few constants in my life. Ballet studios feel like home, not just because I’ve spent so much time there but because they are a sanctuary of sorts, a place to let go and connect to something larger than myself.

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