ballet class for adult

[vivi]

Hi,

I'm thinking of taking a ballet class (I'm in my early 20s and had
never done much dancing). I've always been intimidated by taking ballet
class due to my inflexibility. I used to be able to do a split when I
was younger, but now, I could barely raise my leg to side to 120
degree.

Should I try to get more flexibility first before going to a ballet
class? Or does adult basic ballet class teach me how to be more
flexible?

Thanks,
Vivi

[Helge Hielscher]

Hello Nefertari Vivi,

if that is not your name, please change "vivi" to a realname.

I'm thinking of taking a ballet class (I'm in my early 20s and had never
done much dancing). I've always been intimidated by taking ballet class
due to my inflexibility. I used to be able to do a split when I was
younger, but now, I could barely raise my leg to side to 120 degree.
Should I try to get more flexibility first before going to a ballet class?
Or does adult basic ballet class teach me how to be more flexible?

Well I started to take ballet with 29, but I've been quite flexible. If
you worry about your flexibility I would recomend to take a yoga or
pilates (or both) class beforehand.

Regards,
Helge

[dancertm]

On Fri, 30 Dec 2005 03:34:15 +0100, Helge Hielscher

Post by Helge Hielscher
Hello Nefertari Vivi,
if that is not your name, please change "vivi" to a realname.

I'm thinking of taking a ballet class (I'm in my early 20s and had never
done much dancing). I've always been intimidated by taking ballet class
due to my inflexibility. I used to be able to do a split when I was
younger, but now, I could barely raise my leg to side to 120 degree.
Should I try to get more flexibility first before going to a ballet class?
Or does adult basic ballet class teach me how to be more flexible?

Well I started to take ballet with 29, but I've been quite flexible. If
you worry about your flexibility I would recomend to take a yoga or
pilates (or both) class beforehand.
Regards,
Helge

As a long time former teacher, community college level, don't worry
about flexibility. Work on doing the barre correctly, with the right
placement, leaning your center, working from your stomach, the rest
will come in time, and according to what you have. Center your work on
yourself, not those around you. Technique is one thing, but the art of
dance also comes more from the inside out, and from the mind as well.

Have fun, merde!

[Kerryn Offord]

Post by vivi
Hi,
I'm thinking of taking a ballet class (I'm in my early 20s and had
never done much dancing). I've always been intimidated by taking ballet
class due to my inflexibility. I used to be able to do a split when I
was younger, but now, I could barely raise my leg to side to 120
degree.
Should I try to get more flexibility first before going to a ballet
class? Or does adult basic ballet class teach me how to be more
flexible?
Thanks,
Vivi

It depends on the nature of the class. A class for adult students will
normally cater for the less flexible (while accepting the flexible) --
unless you have an advanced class.. Look for classes that cater for
people who have never taken ballet before...

Anyway.. The more you put off starting, the less likely you are to
start. Try it. Ask the teacher what she (usually a she) thinks...

I suggest giving it a go, and the sooner you start the better.. The
chances are there are people in the class with the same lack of
flexibility ...

if you work at it, flexibility comes.... (bloody slowly...)

[Ian Johnston]

On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 16:03:03 UTC, "vivi" <***@gmail.com> wrote:

: Should I try to get more flexibility first before going to a ballet
: class? Or does adult basic ballet class teach me how to be more
: flexible?

Go to a ballet class to dance, not for flexibility. Some of the most
boring dancers I have seen have been extremely flexible, and some of
the most exciting dancers to watch have had relatively little
extension. It's a regrettable fad nowadays to believe that wrapping a
leg round your ear is somehow "dancing".

In other words, go along, have fun, don't worry.

Ian

[Jane McFerran]

Hi Vivi,

Don't worry about your age!. I returned to dance at 40, after a gap of 25
years. I was stiff as a board, but the body remembers, as the muscles have
memory. They will remember your flexibility from childhood after a few
classes. I now take class twice a week, yoga three times per week, and
stretch whenever I can. I have a lady in class with me who is 60, and can do
a wonderful double pirouette across the room, and is still dancing.

More importantly, go and do it!

Jane

Post by vivi
Hi,
I'm thinking of taking a ballet class (I'm in my early 20s and had
never done much dancing). I've always been intimidated by taking ballet
class due to my inflexibility. I used to be able to do a split when I
was younger, but now, I could barely raise my leg to side to 120
degree.
Should I try to get more flexibility first before going to a ballet
class? Or does adult basic ballet class teach me how to be more
flexible?
Thanks,
Vivi

[Ian Johnston]

On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 10:05:54 UTC, "Jane McFerran"
<***@ntlworld.com> wrote:

:
: Don't worry about your age!. I returned to dance at 40, after a gap of 25
: years. I was stiff as a board, but the body remembers, as the muscles have
: memory. They will remember your flexibility from childhood after a few
: classes.

It's not so much the muscles that matter as the tendons. They stop
growing when you're around 20, and that puts a practical limit on what
balletic extension you can ever hope to get afterwards. But you are
quite right - childhood, or at least late teenage, flexibility will
come back in time.

: I now take class twice a week, yoga three times per week, and
: stretch whenever I can. I have a lady in class with me who is 60, and can do
: a wonderful double pirouette across the room, and is still dancing.

I occasionally do class alongside an eightysomething year old (it
would be rude to ask, know or reveal more precisely) who lasts the
full two hours, has great extension, enormous style and can still
crack out a triple or quadruple pirouette whenever she wants to.

Ian

[Jane McFerran]

That is very interesting what you say about the Tendons - are they not able
to be stretched, as we stretch muscle fibres?. I thought Tendons had a
certain amount of flexibility - am I wrong ?, and can this be increased over
time?.

I would like to know if this is possible

Jane

Post by Ian Johnston
On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 10:05:54 UTC, "Jane McFerran"
: Don't worry about your age!. I returned to dance at 40, after a gap of 25
: years. I was stiff as a board, but the body remembers, as the muscles have
: memory. They will remember your flexibility from childhood after a few
: classes.
It's not so much the muscles that matter as the tendons. They stop
growing when you're around 20, and that puts a practical limit on what
balletic extension you can ever hope to get afterwards. But you are
quite right - childhood, or at least late teenage, flexibility will
come back in time.
: I now take class twice a week, yoga three times per week, and
: stretch whenever I can. I have a lady in class with me who is 60, and can do
: a wonderful double pirouette across the room, and is still dancing.
I occasionally do class alongside an eightysomething year old (it
would be rude to ask, know or reveal more precisely) who lasts the
full two hours, has great extension, enormous style and can still
crack out a triple or quadruple pirouette whenever she wants to.
Ian

[Ian Johnston]

On Wed, 4 Jan 2006 19:12:37 UTC, "Jane McFerran"
<***@ntlworld.com> wrote:

: That is very interesting what you say about the Tendons - are they not able
: to be stretched, as we stretch muscle fibres?. I thought Tendons had a
: certain amount of flexibility - am I wrong ?, and can this be increased over
: time?.

According to an orthopaedic surgeon with whom I worked (I used to do
research on artificial knee joints), no, you can't get any significant
extension in tendons after the early twenties. What you can do is
damage them, and they contract when they heal ...

Ian

[viptip]

Go to http://www.Dance-ballet.com and all these messageboards to ask the
people there too.

happy ballet

Post by vivi
Hi,
I'm thinking of taking a ballet class (I'm in my early 20s and had
never done much dancing). I've always been intimidated by taking ballet
class due to my inflexibility. I used to be able to do a split when I
was younger, but now, I could barely raise my leg to side to 120
degree.
Should I try to get more flexibility first before going to a ballet
class? Or does adult basic ballet class teach me how to be more
flexible?
Thanks,
Vivi