May 22, 2015

Ballerina Profile: Tricia Romanishen

IMG_5812When did you start doing ballet as an adult?

I started doing ballet when I was 39 🙂
Did you ever take lessons as a kid?

No I never took any ballet lessons when I was younger. I don’t really really even remembering asking to take any. I did take at least 2 seasons of Highland dancing when I was 5 or 6, until I convinced my parents to let me quit.

Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?

My youngest daughter has been taking ballet and jazz lessons for the past 2 years. After watching her classes, her practicing at home, I thought I might like it. After watching her school’s end of year recital, I decided I really wanted to try and learn.

Where do you take classes?

I take classes twice a week at different studios. One studio is called Academy of Performing Arts, which is RAD based and my other studio is called Dixon’s Dance and Fitness Centre, which is Cecchetti based.

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April 26, 2015

Improving Petit Allegro Jumps with Kathyrn Morgan

One of the biggest things I personally struggle with is jumping, especially because while I was injured I was banned from doing any jumping, so I have less practice in it than anything else.

In this video, dancer Kathryn Morgan gives tricks and tips for helping you jump higher, faster, and better. They’ll also help to strengthen your calves and ankles!

Check out Kathyrn Morgan’s website, If The Pointe Shoe Fits, for more great tutorials!

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April 20, 2015

How to Make The Perfect Bun By The Washington Ballet

Have you seen The Washington Ballet’s videos on how to make the perfect bun? I love that they have videos for short (which my hair currently is), long hair, and thick hair. Here are the videos:

The third video (thick hair) is available on The Washington Ballet’s Facebook page.

Do you have a specific trick to get your hair into a perfect bun?

I like to use a hairnet on days my bun needs to be perfect. I also like to use Bunhead hair pins and having my hair wet or damp really helps too. I also have occasionally using a sock bun (or in my case, I made it out of tights).

Filed Under: Ballet, Ballet Class, Info Tagged With: , , , 2 Comments
March 20, 2015

Adult Danseur Profile: Sean

sean nutcrackerWhen did you start doing ballet as an adult?
About 3 years ago.
Did you ever take lessons as a kid?
 
HA – I did – as a child I was incredibly clumsy.  The local ballet studio gave free classes to boys, so I took lessons.  Can’t say it helped me be any less of a klutz, but I did learn to love it.
Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?
 
I started up again for a couple of reasons:-
-A coworker told me she’d always wanted to take a ballet class – but she was sad now b/c she was too old to try.  Thats a pet peeve of mine – saying ‘I’m too old to do xyz’, if you’re not dead yet, you’re not too old.  You might never be the greatest, but thats ok, you can still have fun.
-The second reason I took classes was because my elder sister had majored in theatre and dance, but as she got older she got a ‘normal’ job and has let those things go out of her life.  I told her that I’d take a ballet class if she would…
Where do you take classes?
I take classes wherever I can – these days I take classes primarily at Gainesville Ballet (http://gainesvilleballetcompany.org) – It is a great school and the teachers are outstanding/encouraging and extremely professional.  My only complaint is that I can’t take more classes there 🙂
What is your favorite part about ballet?
I love the structure, that there is a right way and a wrong way to do things – I love that for all the artistry and expression, there is a set of rules, movements, etc – that must be learned and perfected.  I may never do a perfect tendu, but I know that such a thing exists – at least hypothetically.
What is your least favorite part?
petit allegro and I have a love/hate relationship.  I feel like I’m just incapable of moving as fast or jumping as high (and definitely not capable of quickly jumping high) as I would like to.
Who/What is your ballet inspiration?
Since beginning adult classes I’ve gone to a number of schools – I have to say that one consistent thing is that the teachers are all amazing people – I don’t mean only that I find their dancing beautiful, but their kindness and patience is incredible.  Every teacher I’ve had has done a fantastic job in showing me the right way to do things but also at showing me their love of ballet.
What motivates you to keep dancing?
That I might someday get any better at it 🙂
What are your hobbies outside of ballet?
I used to be a long distance runner but have taken a rather long break from that – I desperately need to get back to running, if only to get rid of my growing gut.
What advice would you like to give to those who want to start ballet or have just started?
Turn out starts at the hip, don’t push stretches too hard – you can hurt yourself that way, if it feels natural you’re probably doing it wrong.
What advice would you give to other guys who want to take ballet?
As a dude, you might worry that people won’t be accepting or that they will be judgmental – generally I’ve not found that to be as true as I would have thought.  Reactions from others range from complete disinterest to full-fledged curiosity.  Reactions from class mates vary, I have found that there is usually a class or two period where I’m not sure that my class mates are cool with the strange, ugly, bearded dude in class. If you work hard though the other students will accept you and it is a nice feeling when you feel like you’ve been accepted into the class – note of warning though, once you are accepted you may hear all kinds of conversations that you were never ready for.
A second note – as a adult student, clothing/uniform restrictions are generally more lax than they are for the younger students, so no, you probably won’t have to wear tights (although you could if you wanted to), and while almost everyone will ask you if you wear a tutu b/c EVERYONE seems to think thats a hysterical joke, as a dude (unless you’re a trockadero) a tutu is definitely out.  A dance belt is a good idea though. . .
How as a whole can we encourage more guys to take an adult ballet class? 
Well – I don’t really have an answer for that – I guess I have two thoughts on this:
On the one hand, I think the issue is that men see ballet as feminine, ‘artsy-fartsy’, and just generally not for men – or that the men who do it are weird.  Ultimately I think men just need to be exposed to more ballet. Thats really the only way they can learn to appreciate the athleticism and precision.  Outside of that, I think inviting a male friend to a class couldn’t hurt – I can’t lie, a man might go to his first class thinking it’ll be easy (or thinking it’s an easy way to meet women) but once class starts, I think that nonsense would drop out. . .
On the other hand, ultimately how to get more men involved is the same problem I feel ballet at large faces – how to get more people involved… I think the way to get more people involved in ballet is to educate the public, but that costs money that the smaller local companies and schools don’t want/can’t afford to spend on outreach, but unless the audience/enrollment grows then the budget won’t grow – in my humble opinion, it’s a problem for ballet – not just for appealing to men, but to American participation/viewership at large.
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February 6, 2015

Beginner Ballerina Profile: Jessica Bloxom

10885402_10102013620794694_2683103836041901678_nThis week’s profile is of Jessica Bloxom. Read on to hear why she picked up ballet in December!

When did you start doing ballet as an adult?

I’m 31, and I just started December 2014.

Did you ever take lessons as a kid?

I took ballet, tap, jazz, and gymnastics from ages 4-9. I had to stop because of what a huge commitment dance is.

Why did you decide to take ballet as an adult?

I always regretted stopping dance and got jealous when I saw dancers who were my age and still doing it. I honestly thought it was impossible to start again as an adult, but I googled “adult ballet class” one day and was surprised to find a class down the street from me. It seemed like fate. I read all the articles on this site before going to my first class, so I felt like I wasn’t alone.

Where do you take classes?

The Wilmington Ballet Academy of the Dance. Its in Wilmington, Delaware. My teacher also teaches a beginner class at our YMCA, so I take that once a week.

What is your favorite part about ballet?

All of it! I love wearing pink tights and a leo again. I slept with my ballet slippers the first night I bought them because I was so excited to have slippers again. I love stretching. I love petit allegro and the end of class reverence curtsies. I love how pretty it looks. I love that its in French. Ballet is unique in that you work diligently on all of these little details to perfect them: tucked in, thumbs down, heel presented, chin up etc, and the result is a beautiful without revealing the efforts. I love losing myself in concentration on the details and seeing the results.

What is your least favorite part?

Honestly, the cost. I wish I could afford to take a class every day. I also am not too keen on putting my leg on the bar and plie-ing my supporting leg.

Who/What is your ballet inspiration?

My teacher is inspiring because she started ballet again as an adult when she was 31 also. Again, its fate! My fellow students inspire me so much too.

What motivates you to keep dancing?

My fellow students. When I see one of the more advanced ones practicing double pirouettes or getting better extensions on her grand jete, I just can’t wait to get there! I also want to try en pointe so so so very much.

Do you take any other dance classes?

I took a jazzercise class for a couple years after my son was born, and that made me realize how much I really do love dance. I would really love to try jazz or lyrical.

What are your hobbies outside of ballet?

I am a runner too. I’ve been running since I was 13, and I run races with my husband. We just entered the lottery for the NYC marathon. I teach chemistry and fancy myself to a mad scientist, emphasis on mad. I love cooking and am an avid traveler. I lived in Germany for three years and spent a Summer volunteering with children in South Africa.

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

If you want to do it, do it! There’s no substitution for the way dancing makes you feel! Also, if you just started, be kind and patient with yourself because your classmates should be kind and patient too. I’ve found my classes to be so hugely supportive of everyone who takes this courageous leap and tries a ballet class for the first time. The more the better, and everyone there had their first class horror stories. The more you mess up, the more you can learn. I appreciate hearing other dancers’ corrections too, so even if you’re the weakest link in class, you’re benefiting the class.

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