October 30, 2013

November is National Novel Writing Month

Nanowrimo

But what does ballet have to do with National Novel Writing Month?

I’m not sure.

I’ve been a “writer” for a lot longer than I’ve been a ballerina. I always wrote stories as a little kid and decided to pick “journalist” as a career despite knowing that I’d have a tough time finding a job. I’ve wanted to participate in NaNoWriMo for years now, however, things such as high school and college have always gotten in the way. November was usually one of my toughest months–juggling finals, final projects, and usually a cold or three (including mono in high school and not one but two cases of strep-like symptoms last year). There just was never time to participate.

Now that I’m unfortunate (or fortunate in the case of NaNoWriMo) to no have a full-time job, I’ll be participating in NaNoWriMo–especially since I can’t run quite yet and my ballet practicing is limited. Don’t tell my PT I’ve been practicing balances en tournant constantly in my living room trying to get them right.

Maybe I’ll even write a ballet novel if enough people beg me too! Otherwise, I don’t have too many ideas just yet…even though NaNoWriMo starts in two days.

If you’re participating in NaNoWriMo, let me know and we can be buddies! My profile name is Kristengilmore (I was a huge Gilmore Girls fan and I’ve had a profile for five years now).

What activities/hobbies do you to keep yourself occupied when you can’t dance or run?

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October 28, 2013

Ballet Shoes and Arch Supports

Thank-you so much to everyone who commented on my post last week on FOMO with words of encouragement! I didn’t make it to ballet on Thursday (I was sore and feeling sick), but eventually made it on Saturday again. I changed my schedule with my PT this morning so that I’ll hopefully be able to go Monday and Friday and hopefully avoid being super sore again and be able to get back on track and not have to miss any ballet classes because everything hurts too much.

In other good news, I seem to finally have found arch supports for my sneakers/other shoes that finally seem to not slip around everywhere. I also wore elastic arch supports to ballet, and even though my arches were killing me (like they have been since my return to ballet) during the beginning of ballet, I feel like they’re helping me to overpronate less. If they seem to continue to help, I’m looking at a couple of additional options for ballet shoe support:

MDM Adult “Intrinsic” Canvas Split-Sole Ballet Slipper

mb100_inset2These look like they have really good arch support and have great reviews, and they’re not too badly priced for an entire new set of slippers. Even though I just bought new shoes not too long ago, it wouldn’t be terrible if it helped save me some pain and bulk in my shoes from elastic arch supports

 

 

 

Dr. Roth Arch Band Supports

201fabsxAlthough these are about the same price as the slippers, they’re tempting because they could be worn with my current pair of slippers and pointe shoes (if I even ever wear pointe shoes again). They could even be worn around the house, in sneakers and with other shoes.

 

 

 

Do you have any experience with arch supports in ballet or tried one of these? Any recommendations for slippers with good arch support?

 

 

Filed Under: Ballet, Blog, Clothing and Gear, Info Tagged With: , , , 10 Comments
October 25, 2013

Beginner Ballerina Profile: Belén Aguilar of En Dehors Blog

1016598_10151678173097733_143461741_nThis week’s profile is of Belén Aguilar, who runs En Dehors Blog in both English and Spanish. Make sure to like her blog on Facebook too, because she updates there more frequently!

When did you start doing ballet as an adult?

I started Ballet when I was 18. And it was cause I had back problems and my doctor told me the best would be whether swimming or ballet. And I had a ballet academy just around the corner, and I started there. Till that time I have never been interested in ballet and less in taking ballet classes, but now I can’t live without Ballet!

Did you ever take lessons as a kid?

I did have taken dance lessons, but not ballet lessons. I danced my whole life Spanish dance and Flamenco, which has all the ballet technique of the arms and some steps.

Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?

At first time I only thought that it would be good for my back health, but then I realized that it was good for my whole body, mind and soul. And now is my passion.

Where do you take classes?

I’m taking classes in Madrid (Spain) but I also took Ballet lessons in Leipzig (Germany, that was a really interesting experience, cause at the beginning I didn’t speak so much German, but it is not a problem if you wanna dance, and I actually adore dancing there. I think is a good experience to change sometimes your academy (summers, or periods of time) to learn about different people and to enrich yourself.

What is your favorite part about ballet?

My favorite part is when you feel that your body belongs to the music.

What is your least favorite part?

The en Dehor part…I find it so hard to get to that. It takes years and years of training, but without that Ballet wouldn’t be the same…

Who/What is your ballet inspiration?

My ballet inspiration has always been Polina Seminova and also the girls who dance ballet with me, they’re such a hard workers and never give up.

What motivates you to keep dancing?

I think my motivation is that I see the results of working hard.

What are your hobbies outside of ballet?

I love languages, travelling and bakery.

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

If you are constant and make effort on what you really like, you’re gonna see the results, you just have to be really really patient and keep the hard work. But the most important thing is to enjoy. I think dance has to be a passion.

Do you have a blog?

Yes. But due to my work and studies I can’t write that much, but on my facebook page I try to update everything about my favorite ballerinas and their videos. I usually write in English and Spanish.

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October 24, 2013

FOMO: Fear of Missing Out

I first really learned what FOMO is thanks to Dance Academy. In the episode, Tara’s leg is finally beginning to heal, but she  begins to fear missing out on 2185782normal teenage things, like dances and boys while at the academy.

My FOMO, or fear of missing out, is a little bit different. I’m worried about missing out on things in ballet class and fall behind with running.

I finally did the math and I’ve missed more than 20 weeks of ballet class in the past year thanks to this injury alone, and I’ve missed even more from being otherwise sick and holidays. I know I’m falling behind all the women in my class who are already en pointe, and are doing pretty well en pointe, too–because they started over 8 months ago. I’ve only been able to attend about three pointe classes, and they don’t seem to be happening in my future.

But it’s more than just falling behind in class–I recently learned that a couple of months ago I missed on getting together with some of the women who go to ballet class because I wasn’t there because I was injured. Although I’m slowly getting back into the swing of going to classes–I’m afraid I’m going to miss out on something this again if I have to take a break from classes again.

Although it’s a little harder to miss out on running, I’m worried I’m going to fall behind my boyfriend and my sister, and that when I can finally return to running, I won’t be able to run as fast as them anymore. While HQ hasn’t gone running without me yet, he’ll probably go soon, and I haven’t been given the clear to run yet. While he has always run faster than me, I’m worried I’ll be even slower and it’ll take me longer to get back to the same level I was on.

Have you ever dealt with the fear of missing out? How did you deal with it?

 

Filed Under: Ballet, Blog Tagged With: , , , 4 Comments
October 21, 2013

You’re Never Too Old to Do Ballet!

A big thanks to Claire Farmer for sharing this with me on Facebook! Don’t forget to read her lovely guest post, Ballet for Body and Soul, too!

BBC News recently ran a story, “‘Silver Swans’ taking to the barre later in life for ballet lessons”, about older adults taking ballet class.

Image via BBC

Image via BBC

More and more pensioners are taking up ballet, according to the Royal Academy of Dance. It is putting the phenomenon down to the popularity of TV programmes like Strictly Come Dancing.

In a locker room at Scottish Ballet, a group of dancers are lacing up their ballet shoes.

Only one thing marks them out from the other dancers here.

These dancers are all in their 60s and 70s.

Today, they are rehearsing Swan Lake.

Among them is Alicia Steele. She danced when she was young. Now, nearly 80, she’s back.

“I went to keep fit classes, but I found them a bit boring,” she says.

Read the full story at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-24567818

What other ballet stories have you seen in the news lately?

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